“Sure, there’s the problem of ice,” reasons
the Toyota engineer. “I’m a physicist and I can’t change the physics. But the
water molecule is quite strange – it needs up to 10 seconds of transition time
to line up the crystal before freezing. So, in a fuel cell membrane running in
sub-zero conditions, we still have a few seconds after the water comes out.
When the fuel cell is started and current is applied, it creates heat within
the layers and we can bring the temperature up by 10°C to 20°C in one second.
So it’s possible to overcome the freezing problem if we can do this quickly
enough.
When
the fuel cell is started and current is applied, it creates heat within the
layers and we can bring the temperature up by 10°C to 20°C in one second.
“There is also the problem of hydrogen
storage technology in the vehicle,” Hirose continues, “and we think
high-pressure compressed hydrogen is the only solution, using carbon-composite
storage tanks that we have designed in-house. You need to be able to start and
stop the fuel cell quickly, and compressed hydrogen is the best way to do
this.”
Better Together
Honda has joined four other leading car
makers, hydrogen fuel suppliers and energy consultancies in signing a US$52m
agreement aimed at developing and demonstrating hydrogen fuel cell technology,
and establishing a refuelling infrastructure.
The global deal, known as the HyFIVE
project (Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles), is the largest of its kind in
Europe. BMW, Daimler, Hyundai and Toyota as well as Honda have all agreed to
deploy a total of 110 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at several European locations
and develop new clusters of refuelling stations.
The
Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles (HyFIVE) project, funded by the Fuel Cells and
Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, will see deliveries made in Bolzano, Copenhagen,
Innsbruck, London, Munich and Stuttgart.
The HyFIVE car makers each have a long
history of developing hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars, which have the potential
to be more than twice as fuel-efficient as conventionally powered vehicles, as
well as operate quietly. The latest advances are said to enable rapid
refuelling times and potential ranges of more than 640km (400 miles).
Honda’s next-generation FCEV will launch in
Europe in early 2016. It follows 2008’s FCX Clarity, launched in California and
Japan, and is currently running in the German demonstration project, Clean
Energy Partnership.
Bert De Colvenaer, executive director of
the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) program, said, “With a
total of 110 FCEVs and six new refuelling stations, HyFIVE will represent the
largest single project of its kind financed by the FCH JU. The project will
contribute to the build-up of the first networks at local levels necessary to
support the market introduction of the vehicles in the coming years. With the
participation of leading auto makers and infrastructure providers, HyFIVE
illustrates the commitment from leading industrial players in the EU and the
spirit of cooperation that I am convinced will enable the success of these
technologies.”
More Partnerships
The HyFIVE partnership follows similar fuel
cell development JVs formed in the last 15 months, first between Toyota and
BMW, and another between Daimler, Ford and Renault-Nissan.
Toyota and BMW have confirmed plans to
jointly develop a fuel cell vehicle system, including not only the fuel cell
stack, but also the hydrogen tank, motor and battery. They are aiming for
completion by 2020. Interestingly, the partners will also work together on a
sports vehicle, lightweight technology and lithium-air battery research.
The
BMW i8 is ready to revolutionise its vehicle class. As the first sports car
with the consumption and emission values of a compact car.
Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of
management of BMW, said, “TMC and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision
of future sustainable mobility. In light of the technological changes ahead,
the entire automotive industry faces tremendous challenges, which we also
regard as an opportunity. This collaboration is an important building block in
keeping both companies on a successful course in the future.” Akio Toyoda,
Toyota president, added, “It is just over a year since we signed our
collaborative memorandum of understanding, and with each day as our
relationship strengthens, we feel acutely that we are making steadfast
progress. Now, we are entering the phase that promises the fruit. While placing
importance on what we learn from the joint development, we will work hard
together in reaching our common goal of making ever-better cars.”
