Range Extended Volvo C30 Electric Uses Hydrogen Fuel Cell « New and Used Car Listings

Volvo Cars is embarking on the development of a Volvo C30 Electric Range Extender variant of its electric vehicle, with additional range provided by a fuel cell. Volvo is working with PowerCell Sweden AB, a joint venture between AB Volvo and Statoil ASA in developing the fuel cell-based range extender. The concept integrates a fuel cell with an on-board reformer that was originally developed by Oel Waerme Institut in Aachen, Germany.

Using special catalysts operating at elevated temperatures, regular gasoline is converted into a hydrogen reformate to fuel the PowerCell fuel cell. The Volvo C30 Electric Range Extender can be filled up any gasoline station, and thus is not dependent on hydrogen stations. The reformer technology can be adapted for renewable fuels.

The PEM fuel cell being developed by Volvo will generate 30 kilowatts to power the car and recharge its lithium-ion batteries while driving. The fuel cell starts automatically when the battery is discharged to a predetermined level. While driving, the car is powered by the electric motor with energy supplied by the fuel cell, maintaining the battery charge. The battery provides maximum power for passing. In the Volvo C30 Electric Range Extender vehicles half of the batteries will be replaced by the PowerCell reformer/fuel cell system.

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p>The range extending technology will increase operating range by up to 155 miles over the 93 mile range of the battery-only Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric. The result is about the same overall driving range as a conventional car. Besides being quiet and vibration free, if a renewable fuel is used there are virtually no carbon dioxide (CO2) or nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter are eliminated. 

Volvo plans to have two Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric Range Extenders ready for real world testing in 2012 Beside the EREV application, PowerCell plans to supply its Power Generator reformer plus fuel cell stack to the pleasure marine and truck markets as an auxiliary power unit.

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