Is This the Best They Have to Offer?

The following, from a recent press release, seems to me to be a reflection of where the fuel cell vehicle program stands.  Is an 88 hp, 100 mile range vehicle the best Chrysler has to offer after over a billion dollars worth of research?  Considering their claim "No other manufacturer comes close to the efforts of DaimlerChrysler with fuel cell technology", we must have a long ways to go before cars that appeal to the consumer are available. Granted it is a supervisors vehicle, but I thought all police vehicles were supposed to be usable in all types of service.  It certainly is not a vehicle that will grab the attention of US consumers.

DaimlerChrysler has introduced the first fuel cell-powered police vehicle to the world. The Wayne State University Police Department in Detroit will operate the Mercedes F-Cell as a supervisor's vehicle on and in the immediate vicinity of the campus, located in Detroit's Cultural Center.

The Mercedes F-Cell is a reflection of DaimlerChrysler's leadership in fuel cell technology. The entire fuel cell system is housed in the floor of the vehicle, leaving full use of the passenger and cargo spaces. It has a range of approximately 100 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. The electric motor develops 88 hp (65 kW), enabling acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds. The stack has been developed by the DaimlerChrysler cooperation partner, Ballard Power Systems.

DaimlerChrysler has spent more than $1 billion in fuel cell vehicle research and development. No other manufacturer has accumulated more data or driven more zero-emissions miles -- more than 1.2 million.

The DaimlerChrysler fuel cell vehicle fleet is diverse -- in addition to several research vehicles, it also includes medium-duty fuel cell Dodge Sprinter vans and more than 35 Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell buses, which operate in Europe, the United States, Japan, Australia and Singapore. As part of the world's largest fleet of fuel cell vehicles, DaimlerChrysler has more than 25 fuel cell vehicles in customer hands in California and more than 100 around the world. No other manufacturer comes close to the efforts of DaimlerChrysler with fuel cell technology.

DaimlerChrysler Builds First Fuel Cell-Powered Police Car, Chrysler Group press release, April 7, 2006

Technorati tags: fuel cells, vehicles, energy, technology

Comments

[Cervus]

Biofuels are the way to go. They're the only thing that can offer similar range and utility to petroleum.

And they're far, far cheaper compared to this.

[amazingdrx]

Agribizz biofeuls do not help stop global climate change. They are not a viable solution to imported oil either, since not enough land area is available to grow the feedstock.

The dust bowl will be back with this strategy, aquifers have already been devestated by agribizz farming and oil and gas drilling. Water is rapidly becoming the limiting factor on all agribizz.

They are not an economic solution either, since their cost will track the cost of oil based liquid fuels.

Once liquid fuel needs are reduced to 10% of present needs by renewable electric battery powered transportation and heat pump heating and cooling, biofuel from the waste stream using algae could supply liquid fuel needs.

[odograph]

Biofuels deserve more research (and less production subsidies ;-), but the thing that jumps out at me is that old (scrapped) electric cars did better than this.

[Roger]

You've obviously fallen prey and taken the bait...or you are part of the PR scam brigade. I'm guessing the later.

If you want to see the latest DaimlerChrysler has to offer you can download their HighTech Report here and see the F600 Hygenius Fuel Cell vehicle inside.

http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0-5-75470-1-565241-1-0-0-0-0-0-135-7165-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html

The so called press, however, has virtually not covered the Hygenius at all and jumps at the chance to take 5 year old tech and present it as the latest.

You can read all about Honda's latest fuel cell vehicle here:
http://world.honda.com/Tokyo2005/fcx/

It has a range of 350 miles on 5 kilograms of H2. They plan on producing it in production form by 2009 or 2010.

That announcement by the CEO of the company can be seen here:
http://world.honda.com/news/2006/4060108FCX/

Again...the so called press skips the story completely and instead jumps at the chance to talk about yesterday's technology.

[Mike]

H2 can be generated virtually anywhere. As a matter of fact, I have made some in my garage and in my office (not enough to fill a car). IF I can do it myself, I think it is only amter of time before we can get this technology in our driveways. Just look at Mike Strizki in NJ. He has a solar home that generates H2. He uses it to run his stove, furnace and BBQ, and any leftover he changes to electricity with a fuel cell for his lights, etc.

[Mike]

H2 Fuel Cells powering cars are one of the technologies that will come our way very soon. Fuel Cells, batteries, alternative bio fuels are all moving forward. The biggest challenge is that gasoline powered engines have become so ubiquitous that most everyone is looking for one solution rather than one that fits a particular need. When I say everyone, I mean researchers, marketers, developers and consumers. Any of these upcoming technologies will start by filling a specific niche. However, we must get to the point where they can fill the niche. As an example, I drive 40 or miles each way for my commute. Since i have no ability to charge or fuel an alternative fuel at the office, i need a product that can get me a comforatable 100 mile range, in traffic with heat and A/C in case I need to add an errand or stop. SInce I have a family, it would ideally be capable of carrying 4 people and have some cargo space.
Based on what I know, if i could get hydrogen to my home sufficient to fill the tanks of a 100 mile range H2 Fuel Cell car, my basic nee are filled. Now this must also make economic sense. Sinilarly, an electric car with similar characteristics and range would fit the bill as well.

[Cyril R.]

I'd rather have a good plugin-hybrid with a decent battery if that's OK with you because for high drain applications, the wasteful nature of the hydrogen cycle becomes apparent, especially if everyone starts doing it!

And why would you want to waste large amounts of electricity when you shouldn't have to?