Hydrogen Fuel Cell Volkswagen Tiguan Travels Across U.S.

Volkswagen's hydrogen-fuel-cell-concept crossover SUV, HyMotion Tiguan, will drive from Portland, Maine, to Los Angeles, California, on a two-week tour starting August 11, 2008, as a part of the National Hydrogen Road Tour. The Tour is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Hydrogen Association. The tour will visit 31 cities to build awareness of hydrogen technology as the future by demonstrating its potential as a fuel and by showcasing the concept vehicles in real-world driving situations. Other automotive companies participating in the tour include BMW, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Nissan.

The HyMotion Tiguan concept uses a fuel-cell system integrated in the engine compartment that's linked with an electric motor. Running on fuel cells alone, the Tiguan produces 107 hp; with the electric motor, it produces 134 hp. It has a top speed of 93 mph and has a 0-to-60 time of about 14 sec. The 700 bar hydrogen tank is integrated in the area beneath the floor in the rear bench seat and cargo area and is capable of holding up to 3.2 kg of hydrogen. A lithium-ion battery serves as an auxiliary energy storage unit. The battery has a charge capacity of 6.8 Ampere-hours and has a maximum output of 22 kW. The fully functional HyMotion Tiguan does not compromise on safety or comfort with the addition of its fuel-cell powertrain system. The vehicle is nearly silent when driven and emits zero emissions.

The fuel-cell system works by combining many fuel cells into a stack, with each cell containing a proton-conducting membrane. Between each membrane is an anode and cathode pair. A catalyst within each cell assists the reaction of hydrogen from the anode side to oxygen from the cathode side. Hydrogen is supplied from the compressed hydrogen tank, and oxygen is supplied from the air. When the hydrogen and oxygen react, the fuel cell converts the chemical energy from the reaction directly into electrical energy in an oxidation/"cold" combustion process. The electrical energy is outputted through a converter and a downstream electrical system rectifier to one or more electric motors, which power the entire vehicle. The byproduct of the combustion is harmless water.

One of the stops along the tour will be at Chattanooga, Tennessee, home of Volkswagen's newly announced production facility. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Center for Energy Transportation and the Environment will host the tour and will feature Congressman Zach Wamp. The event will be on August 18 at the First Tennessee Pavilion. Wamp, a proponent of alternative fuel research, has stated the importance of this event: "Advanced transportation rolling into Chattanooga on the heels of Volkswagen's historic announcement bodes well for the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor. The vehicles of the future will be built right here in our region as we lead our nation to greater efficiency and sustainability."

Check out the dedicated blog for the tour here.

Source: PR Newswire