Nissan has announced that it is researching and developing a new e-bio fuel cell vehicle power system.
The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system will run on bio-ethanol electric power and will be the first of its kind designed for automotive use.
The e-bio fuel cell utilises hydrogen transformed from fuel via a reformer and atmospheric oxygen, with the subsequent electrochemical reaction producing electricity to power the vehicle.
Nissan claims that the system will have greater power efficiency compared to conventional systems, thanks to its SOFC power source, allowing ranges similar to petrol powered cars, but retaining electric drive benefits such as silent drive, linear start-up and brisk acceleration.
The bio-ethanol used to power the system can be sourced from materials such as sugarcane and corn and Nissan claims that, while there are C02 emissions from an e-bio fuel cell, these are offset by the growing process of these materials, allowing the vehicles to have a ‘carbon neutral cycle’.
via Green fleet