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Hyundai i-Blue Fuel Cell Concept Makes North American Debut at Chicago Auto Show
Concept reveals third-generation fuel cell technology
The
only
emission
is
water.
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Photo
courtesy
Hyundai
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Hyundai's new hydrogen-powered, zero-emission concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), debuted in North America at the 100th edition of the Chicago Auto Show
(February
2008.)
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The all-new i-Blue platform features Hyundai's third-generation fuel cell technology, currently being developed.
i-Blue
is
a significant step towards commercialization of Hyundai fuel cell vehicles. Unlike its predecessors which were built on production SUV platforms, the i-Blue features a new, purpose-built 2+2 crossover architecture.
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Photo
courtesy
Hyundai
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The i-Blue is powered by a 100 kW electric engine and fuel cell stack. Fueled with compressed hydrogen (700 bar) stored in a 115-liter tank, i-Blue is capable of running more than 370 miles per refueling and achieves a maximum speed of more than 100 miles per hour.
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The
i-Blue's
fuel
cell
stack
is
housed
underfloor,
not
in
the
engine
compartment
as
in
the
second-generation
Tucson
FCEV.
This
gives
the
car
ideal
50:50
weight
distribution
for
optimal
driving
and
handling
dynamics,
as
well
as
better
air
flow
and
cooling.
Like
other
fuel
cell
vehicles,
i-Blue's
only
emission
is
water
vapor.
Hyundai
is
working
toward
mass
production
of
hydrogen-powered
fuel
cell
vehicles
in
the
next
decade.
Read
the
full
press
release
here
Latest
RVing
news
headlines
"Mass
production
in
the
next
decade"
-
fuel
cell
electric
vehicles
-
is
this
the
future?
What
do
you
think?
...
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Readers'
comments:
Jon L
:
The BP Company already has a stand alone hydrogen station that is solar powered and this may solve the problem of availability and cost. This concept looks great but the cost of building the station is not yet know if mass produced.
Jon L
John A
:
I think this is the future. It just needs the distribution network for hydrogen setting up and they've started this in California. Then it needs new ideas for hydrogen production and mass production of the components will bring the price down. Then into more cars, then trucks and RVs.
John Howard
:
Seems to me this would be a great business opportunity to get into hydrogen stations. Only in California to start with but it'll spread. Hyundai and Honda wouldn't put so much money and development into it if it wasn't a good prospect.
Jack P
:
The availability of hydrogen is extremely limited. To get it from water, it takes much more energy than will be available from the hydrogen. This could be made economically feasable by utilizing electrical energy in low demand times, but the storage of the highly explosive gas is an unsolved problem.
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