DaimlerChrysler, NECAR

A number of the major automakers have stated their intention to begin selling - or expanding sales of - fuel cell passenger vehicles. Toyota plans to offer about 20 hybrid fuel cell SUVs based on its Highlander platform. Nissan has announced plans to start selling a fuel cell vehicle, and Ford Motor Company said it would offer a fuel cell version of the Focus in low-volume production for small fleet operations. Other FCVs include the CM Opel HydroCen 3, the Hyundai Santa Fe FCEV, and the Nissan Xterra FCV, the DaimlerChrysler Necar 5, and Daihatsu s Move FCV-K-2. 

DaimlerChrysler NECAR 5 and Jeep Commander Fuel Cell Vehicles... 

DaimlerChrysler renewed its interest in liquid hydrogen, and that was the fuel in NECARIV that appeared in 1999. NECARIV was among the first drivable, zero-emission, fuel cell cars in the United States along with the Ford and GM fuel cell prototypes. It was a major advance over NECAR III, whose cell and reformer took up all the passenger space. NECAR IV was still heavy and slower to accelerate than Ford s P2000 fuel cell car, but it had room for five, with a 40% power increase over the earlier version, a higher top speed of 90 miles per hour and a range of 280 miles. 

DaimlerChrysler-Ballard (last accessed 1998). Fuel-cell development programme. http //www.daimler-benz.com/research/specials/necar/necar e.htm. 

DaimlerChrysler s electric NeCar 4 has been widely promoted but yet cannot counteract the disadvantages of electric power. DaimlerChrys-ler is also working on hybrid cars. Opel General Motors has built a hydro-gen-powered car, HydroGen 1. Ford plans to make its SUVs lighter and more aerodynamic and had plans to introduce an electric version of its Escape SUV. VW s Lupo is designed for low fuel consumption. Pininfarina s Metrocubo of 1999 is a hybrid car. 

In contrast, and illustrative of the wide divergence of opinions among experts and of the rapid pace of change, a paper presented at a London fuel cell conference in late 1999 claimed that DaimlerChrysler estimated the cost of the fuel-cell system in NECAR 4 to be about 545 ( Economics, fuels, catalysts highlight F-99 conference agenda, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Letter, November 1999). 

By one count, some 60 companies—DaimlerChrysler s chief of fuel cell development, Ferdinand Panik, cited that figure in his presentation at the company s Innovation Symposium in November 1999 in Stuttgart ( DaimlerChrysler to Roll Out Next-Generation Necar 5, Shows Miniaturized Stack, Reformer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Letter, December 1999). 

Journalists awaiting their turn to test drive DaimlerChrysler s experimental Necar 4 fuel cell car during the vehicle s introduction, Washington, March 1999. 

DaimlerChrysler unveiled a series of FCVs using Ballard stacks such as the NECAR 1 (50 kW, Compressed Hz, 1994), NECAR 2 (50 kW, Compressed Hz, 1996), NECAR 3 (50 kW, liquid methanol, 1997), NECAR 4 (70 kW, liquid Hz,... 

Ballard s fuel cell engine powered DaimlerChrysler s NECAR 5 fuel cell vehicle in a 13-day, 3,000-mile endurance test across the United States. The drive provided Ballard and DaimlerChrysler with testing experience in a variety of conditions. 

DaimlerChrysler developed a methanol processor for the NeCar 3 experimental vehicle. This was demonstrated in September 1997 as the world s first methanol-fuelled fuel cell car. It was used in conjunction with a Ballard 50-kW fuel cell stack. Characteristics of... 

Since the NeCar3 demonstration, DaimlerChrysler and Excellsis have been working with BASF to develop a more advanced catalytic reformer system for their vehicles. In November 2000, DaimlerChrysler launched the NeCarS, which, together with a Jeep Commander vehicle, represents state of the art in methanol fuel cell vehicles. In the past six years, the fnel cell drive system has been shrunk to such an extent that it presently requires no more space than a conventional drive system. The Necar 5, therefore, has the full complement of seats and interior space as a conventional gasoline-fuelled internal combustion engine car. The car is based on the A-Class Mercedes design and the methanol... 

One of the most common types of fuel cells for automobiles uses a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). When H2 releases electrons at the anode, ions form and then ffavel through the membrane to the cathode, where they combine with O2 and electrons to form water. This cell generates about 0.7 V of power. To achieve the desired power level, several cells are stacked in series. Fuel cells of this type have appeared in several prototype vehicles, such as Nissan s Xterra FCV, Ford s Focus FCV, and DaimlerChrysler s Mercedes Benz NECAR 5 (see photo). 

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