The Newly Redesigned 2008 Honda FCX Fuel Cell Car

[tyrone schneider]

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are considered as zero emission vehicles.
These vehicles combine hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to
produce water and electricity. The electricity is then used to power
the electric motor which powers the vehicle.
Honda motors has developed a concept fuel cell car called the "Honda
FCX" which will become a limited production car in 2008. Honda has
equipped the FCX with a fuel stack and an ultra capacitor along with
high pressure hydrogen tanks. The fuel cell stack serves as the main
power source while the ultra capacitor serves as the storage unit for
supplemental power.
The Honda fuel stack consists of the PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane
Fuel Cell) and has a total maximum output of 86kW. The water produced
when hydrogen and oxygen are combined, is used in the humidification
system. The fuel cell system is located under the floor and the high
pressure hydrogen tanks are positioned under the rear seat. The ultra
capacitor is positioned at an angle behind the rear seat to ensure
that luggage space is not lost from the trunk.
During startup and acceleration, the ultra capacitor assists the fuel
cell to power the electric motor. During slowdown, the ultra capacitor
recovers energy and stores it for future use. While the vehicle is
stopped, the ultra capacitor provides energy to power the A/C, Radio
and other electrical components while shutting the power from the fuel
stack to the motor.
The latest generation of Honda FCX is about two times more efficient
than it's hybrid counterparts. Honda has also redesigned the fuel cell
stack to be V shaped to allow quick recovery of water generated during
the electricity production. It is about 20 percent lighter and 30
percent smaller, while producing 14kW additional power. Honda has also
added an auxillary litium ION battery.
The vehicle top speed is about 100 mph with a range of 354 miles on
one tank. Large scale production of this car is limited by the number
of hydrogen refuelling stations that will be built over the next few
years. Overall, Honda seems to have made fantastic progress in
building a highly energey efficient car of the
future.
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