|
Other SAE Magazines Sites
|
Global Concepts (Part 1)
Honda FCX
-
Honda is developing its own fuel-cell stacks (and using Ballard units), methanol reformer, and fuel and water tanks in conjunction with its FCX fuel-cell vehicle program. The concept car shown in Tokyo and Detroit has a short nose that houses a compact high-power propulsion motor developed from the EV-Plus electric vehicle, together with its electronic control unit. Honda's two FCX fuel-cell development vehicles, the V1 and V2, are based on the EV-Plus electric car. The FCX V1 is driven by a Honda-designed and -manufactured permanent magnet ac synchronous motor of 49-kW (66-hp) output. Electric energy is supplied by a Ballard PEM fuel-cell stack of 60-kW (80-hp) output. The vehicle's hydrogen fuel is stored in a metal-hydride tank. For the FCX V2, Honda is developing its own PEM fuel-cell system of 60-kW (80-hp) output, which supplies energy to the 49-kW (66-hp) Honda motor. This vehicle is equipped with a methanol-reformer system. As with most methanol reformer-equipped FC vehicles, it requires a lengthy startup time (up to 20 minutes). The FCX-V2 emits clean water and enough heat to boil eggs from its tailpipe. The high heat emitted to the atmosphere, though chemically harmless, is still wasted energy that the company hopes to harness.
|
|
|
