Well I had to put this link through Google Translate in order to figure out what was going on. And I’m glad I did because I want to share some very big news about a group of people who drove hydrogen cars from Oslo, Norway to Monte Carlo, Monaco using only the existing hydrogen refueling infrastructure that is already in place.
According to Google Maps this journey is around 2,260 km and takes about 23 hours if one is driving straight through. This is the first time ever that hydrogen cars have been driven such a distance without the use of a mobile hydrogen fueling support unit.
There have been a few hydrogen road trips in the past including a longer one at 2735 km from Southern California to Vancouver, BC, Canada. But that trip involved portable hydrogen fueling stations plus some of the existing infrastructure. Europe has outpaced the U. S. for several years now in regard to building hydrogen fueling infrastructure. This is no pipe dream several years away.
According to Zero.no, “But already now it is possible to run a hydrogen car from filling stations, the wholesaler and Gaustad in Oslo, via Denmark, Hamburg, Cologne, Karlsruhe and Freiburg in Germany and Sassenage in France, before the trip ended after 2260 km and five days, in Europe motor sport capital of Monte Carlo. To the attention of guests at the casino and the equally famous Hotel de Paris to champagne bottle pops a couple of hours after midnight on 21 april.
“This has never been done before, and why we do it – to show that it is possible to drive emission free from Oslo and throughout Europe, says Marius Bornstein, technical adviser on hydrogen at ZERO. He was one of the drivers who drove the two Hyundai Ix35 FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) hydrogen cars throughout Europe.”
The Hyundai Ix35 FCEV was chosen for this journey because of its tank capacity and driving range. Of course they could also have chosen the Toyota FCHV-adv which has as much if not more tank capacity and driving range as the Hyundai, but the point is now moot.
This exercise shows how far ahead the Europeans are in regard to commitment and taking action in regard to hydrogen cars and fueling stations. They believe zero emission hydrogen cars are the future and have been willing to put their money where their mouths are in regard to building up the European Hydrogen Highway. And the proof is in this most recent success with many other successes to follow.
In contrast (UBC electric vehicle – August 2010):
– cross-Canada trip from Vancouver to Halifax
– over 6,400km (3,980mi)
– 16 days of all-electric driving
– (2 of the 16 days were idle, waiting for Hurricane Earl to pass)
– converted 1972 VW Beetle (E-Beetle)
– AC induction motor with regenerative braking
– 50kWh battery pack (lithium iron phosphate)
– 240V, 12.5kW charger, 4h
– achieved uo to 355km (221mi) highway between charges
– up to 550km (340mi) for city driving
– top speed 140kmh (87mph)
– converted by engineering students at the University of BC
– (not a commercial vehicle produced by the auto industry)
– piloted by Ricky Gu, UBC Electric Car Club President
This is the first recorded trip of an all-electric passenger car crossing Canada. The trip is particularly notable for the extended range the E-Beetle managed to obtain with its 50kWh battery pack. Further, the trip was made without a support vehicle or support group — just 2 lone students and a dog! And very meagre funding! The trip included record hot weather in Ontario and Quebec
While roadside charging stations are not readily accessible as yet, the E-Beetle was able to charge at the many roadside RV parks which offer high power RV charging along the Trans Canada highway, or from the dryer plugs of hosts who welcomed them throughout the route.
For more information on the E-Beetle trip:
Thanks for the info and the story. We will need both EV’s and hydrogen vehicles going forward into a clean and green tech future.