Ford Explores Hydrogen Fuel with Explorer Fuel Cell
Explorer Photos
Hydrogen Can Cut It in the Real World
Aside from having been moved to November from January, this years LA Auto Show is going to be amongst the greenest of the major motor shows. Ford is capitalizing on the event by taking the chance to launch its new Explorer Fuel Cell Vehicle. Developed alongside the U.S. Department of Energy, the Explorer FCV will be shown alongside the new 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, and the 2008 Ford F-350 Super Duty, which is powered by a diesel engine that has particle filters, and runs on new low-sulphur diesel fuel.
“We believe hydrogen may become a viable motor fuel in the long-term,” said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company. “With these technology demonstration vehicles, Ford continues to lead the way in the development of hydrogen technology.”
Rather than going the route of the hydrogen internal combustion engine, as was done with previous hydrogen-powered Fords, and BMWs Hydrogen7, the Explorer uses a hydrogen fuel cell developed by Ballard. Ten kilograms of hydrogen can be stored in the onboard tank at a pressure of 700 bar, which gives the truck a range of 350 miles. That might sound like average for a regular passenger vehicle, but for a hydrogen-powered car its unprecedented. By comparison, the 8 kg tank in the Hydrogen7 is only good for 125 miles. The fuel cell, rated at 80.4 horsepower (60 kW), powers two 87.1 horsepower (65 kW) electric motors, giving the Explorer some of the traction of a traditional four-wheel drive system.
One of the goals that Ford had with the Explorer Fuel Cell Vehicle is to keep the SUV as close to its original form as possible, something that the automaker seems to have achieved with great success. Visually, its no different from a stock Explorer, but for the unique badges on the exterior. Being that a fuel cell vehicle doesnt need a gearbox, the space that normally housed the six-speed automatic found now gets the new fuel tank. Positioning the tank where the gearbox was also meant that the cargo area of the SUV would not be interrupted. In fact, the Explorer looks vastly the same on the inside with the exception of a new center console to house a different LCD display system. The Explorer FCV can also carry six full-size passengers on board, plus their luggage. Not many other hydrogen-powered vehicles can match it in that respect.
The Explorer Fuel Cell Vehicle has been on the road for just over a year now, and during that time has covered more than 17,000 miles. A significant chunk of the total mileage was done during a single 24-hour period, where a total of 1,556 miles passed under the trucks wheels; more than any other fuel cell vehicle at one time. Ford will follow up on the Explorer with a new fuel cell vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in January.
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