ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Ford’s Production-Ready Focus FCEV

Ford Motor Co. recently unveiled its production-ready version of the Focus FCEV hybrid (pictured on page 1) in Aachen, Germany. Initially, the company plans to produce 40 of the vehicles for testing by a few end-users in real-life conditions.

A fuel cell produces most of the vehicle’s required power, and a conventional battery provides an additional power source. The Focus FCEV features a 80mph maximum speed and 186-mile maximum traveling distance.

The company plans to market it to consumers by 2010.

DaimlerChrysler Unveils Mercedes-Benz “F-Cell”

DaimlerChrysler AG recently unveiled two Mercedes-Benz A-Class “F-Cell” fuel cell vehicles in Stuttgart, Germany – the company’s first cars to move from the research stage to customer demonstrations.

Power is supplied to the vehicles by Ballard’s latest generation 85kW fuel cell engine that includes the gas supply system, control unit and fuel cell module. Its higher net power output, combined with reduced weight and lower volume, results in a 60% improvement in power density. The engine has reduced system complexity, improved vehicle integration, and lowered costs.

In addition to the newly christ- ened “F-Cell” vehicles, Daimler Chry- sler also demonstrated the Citaro city bus and the Her- mes Spr inter -delivery van, both powered by Ballard fuel cells.

Prof Jürgen Hubbert, member of the DaimlerChrysler board of management with responsibility for the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and Smart Passenger Car Division, said the company plans to introduce 60 Mercedes-Benz A-Class “F-Cell” vehicles into limited customer fleets in Europe, Japan, Singapore, and the United States beginning in 2003. It also plans to introduce 30 Citaro city buses which will operate in ten major European cities.

Toyota-Hino Bus to Undergo Public Road Tests

Toyota Motor Corp. and its Hino Motors Ltd. unit have obtained approval from Japan’s transport ministry to test four FCHV-BUS2 fuel cell-powered hybrid buses on public roads.

This hybrid bus is a low-floor, easy-access commuter bus capable of carrying 60 people and runs at top speed of 80 kilometers per hour. It runs on electricity generated by chemical reaction of oxygen and gaseous hydrogen fuel. The fuel is stored in high-pressure tanks mounted on the roof. Generated electricity, stored in two fuel cell stacks, runs the motor.

The company expects to begin marketing FCHV passenger vehicles in both Japan and the U.S. in late 2002.