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Fuel cells in cars
UTC Power has partnered with Hyundai-Kia Motor Company, Chevron Technology Ventures, Nissan, BMW and the U.S. Department of Energy, to develop fuel cell technology for cars.
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| Hyundai Tucson |
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| Hyundai Santa Fe |
Hyundai
UTC Power integrated its fuel cell technology into the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson sport utility vehicles as their main power plants. The California Fuel Cell Partnership unveiled the Santa Fe at a show in November 2000 and the Tucson made its debut at the Geneva Auto show in 2004. Both cars demonstrated the superiority and feasibility of UTC Powers’ technology at these events.
UTC Power and Hyundai-Kia Motor Company have jointly developed a new automotive fuel cell power plant capable of operating in freezing conditions. Freeze capable fuel cell vehicles will be demonstrated in real world freezing conditions starting in late 2006.
In April 2004, UTC Power teamed with Chevron Technology Ventures and Hyundai-Kia Motor Company on a five-year project that includes building hydrogen fueling stations in California and Michigan. These stations will fuel a fleet of Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with UTC Power’s 80-kilowatt, all-weather proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plants.
Nissan
UTC Power provided fuel cells for both the 2002 and 2003 Nissan X-TRAIL fuel cell hybrid vehicles.
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| 2003 Nissan X-TRAIL FCV Cutaway |
2003 Nissan X-TRAIL FCV |
In March 2004, Nissan began leasing X-Trails to the Yokohama City Government, the Cosmo Oil Company and Kanagawa Prefecture. These cars are fueled at Hydrogen filling stations, which are part of the Japanese Hydrogen Fuel Project.
BMW
In partnership with BMW since 1999, UTC Fuel Cells has developed and delivered PEM fuel cell auxiliary power units (APUs). The unit was demonstrated at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1999 in a BMW 7 series car. The APU unit provided energy for all of the car's on-board electrical needs, including climate control – even when the engine was off. This five-kilowatt unit runs on pure hydrogen, which means that it is completely pollution-free.
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| 1999 BMW |
In 2004, BMW performed durability testing on the most recent UTC Fuel Cell's APU and the unit, to date, has achieved over 2000 hours of operation far exceeding the customer's expectations. |
