One tank of pollution free fuel
Oslo – Copenhagen
World Record 700 km
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles are superior in environmental performance emitting
nothing but water
Mong-koo Chung, Chairman Hyundai Motor Group
By: Marius Bornstein
A Tuesday morning we packed an ix35 FCEV and set of towards the capital of
Denmark, Copenhagen. Starting in the Norwegian capital Oslo the goal was 600 km
away.
Back in April 2012, Oslo was the starting point of another FCEV adventure. ArntGøran Hartvig, Marius Bornstein and friends made the great 2260 km Oslo - Monte
Carlo drive a reality. Crossing Europe and showing that where refuelling
infrastructure is present these cars can go. The cars used was the two 3rd generation
ix35 FCEVs sent to Norway for testing in November 2011. Both cars are going
strong and a total of 120 000 km driven.
In addition to the two impressive 3rd generation vehicles, Hyundai Motor Norway
now have the assembly line 2013 model ix35 FCEV in the garage. This worlds first
mass produced fuel cell vehicle is the result of an impressive effort made by Hyundai
to take this fantastic technology to the market.
Curious on the specified range of 594 km, it was just a matter of time before ArntGøran Hartvig and Marius Bornstein teamed up again. This time to see how far into
the future the car could go on one tank of pollution free fuel. Looking at different
options it quickly boiled down to Oslo – Copenhagen.
Copenhagen being 600 highway km away was a perfect mach to the specified range.
We made some calls to be sure to get fuel on arrival. No problem.
Stig Aspeli at Hyundai Motor Norway made a last check on the vehicle and supplied
a service computer connected to the cars internal control system. The computer had a
0-100 % fuel gauge, opposed to the eight step gauge in the dashboard. The more
accurate reading of remaining fuel, made it possible to track consumption in finer
detail.
Last stop before leaving Oslo was the refuelling station to top up the fuel tank. The
computer showed 100 %. After roughly an hour we stopped to read out the numbers
and do the calculations. It was looking good. We carried on to the border to Sweden
and down to Gothenburg. 50 km further south the point of no return was a fact.
Turning back was not an option. The good news was that we had gone 350 km and
spent only half the fuel.
Arnt-Gøran Hartvig driving the future into the future. Co-pilot Marius Bornstein calculating fuel
consumption. Arnt-Gøran pioneered the hydrogen car, and was responsible and in charge of the first
officially registered hydrogen car in the world as well as the first hydrogen refuelling station in Norway.
Shot on GoPro
In April 2012 Arnt-Gøran Hartvig, Marius Bornstein and friends made the great 2260 km Oslo Monte Carlo drive a reality.
Marius being a Master of Physics quickly proposed a science experiment. Being able
to read the fuel cells power using the service computer, a speed vs. power curve had
to be made. On level ground power at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 km/h was logged.
All numbers were typed into the computer.
At one point in time we realised that the computer, which we charged from the power
outlet in the car actually was powered by the fuel cell in the car. We both got an
Apollo space craft command module feeling. NASA chose fuel cells as power source
because of its high energy to weight ratio. The byproduct being pure water was
another advantage. The astronauts actually used it to prepare food and for drinking.
We made a pit stop and bought some water. Calculations confirmed that to double
speed power must be quadrupled. Marius was happy with the little experiment and
got back to check on remaining fuel. If we continue like this, we will manage to go
700 km. And we did.
We spent the late hours of the day to go another 100 km after our designated goal. At
this time the “distance to empty” indicator showed two dashes instead of a number.
The orange low fuel indicator was on and the last indicator bar of the eight step gauge
in the dashboard was blinking. The service computer showed 5 % fuel remaining and
we considered doing another spin in the neighbourhood.
Driving primarily highway E6, hitting some traffic around Gothenburg and including
the sightseeing around Copenhagen the driving time clocked in at close to ten hours.
This gives an average speed of 70 km/h. We were happy with the numbers.
It was getting late and we decided to check in to a hotel to get a good night’s sleep
before going back home.
Hyundai began development of its Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) in 1998 and
introduced the ix35 FCEV in 2010, which later became the world’s first mass
production FCEV. Mass production of the ix35 FCEV, which has a range of 594 km
per charge and a top speed of 160 km/h, began in February 2013. Thanks to its strong
performance and quality, it was selected for the EU FCEV demonstration program.
In Korea, the Gwangju city government became the first regional government to buy
the FCEV.
Hyundai has also started the sale of the FCEV in the US market which will strengthen
Hyundai’s reputation as a technology leader.
Hydrogen can be produced using electricity made using renewable sources such as
hydroelectric, wind or solar. An FCEV is an electric vehicle which runs on electricity
generated when hydrogen (H2) reacts with oxygen (O2) producing nothing but pure
water as a byproduct. A FCEV can be fully charged within 3 minutes.
Hyundai opened the world’s first FCEV manufacturing plant in 2013. This ix35
FCEV was produced in the dedicated FCEV production line at the Uslan plant.