New Fuel Vehicles

One of the show stealers at the recently held Geneva Motor Show was the hydrogen fuel-cell roadster - a zero-emission concept model introduced by British sports car manufacturing giant Morgan. Officially named the Morgan Lifecar Hydrogen Sportster, the Lifecar (a short term for Lightweight Fuel Efficient car) concept involves the fire-brand combination of high performance of a sports car with zero emission at the tailpipe. It commands a top speed of 100 miles an hour and can rise from zero to 60 in seven seconds. Based on Morgan’s Aero 8, this vehicle is a result of a two and half year project costing £1.9m, funded jointly by the government and a consortium that includes Morgan, Qinetiq, and industrial gas specialist BOC Linde.

The Lifecar’s commendable and immediate propulsion capacity is caused by smaller-than-normal fuel cells which power four independent electric wheel motors. To downsize the fuel cells, the makers have used a mighty regenerative braking system which stores energy in ultra-capacitors. The critical difference between the Morgan concept and other vehicles of its kind is that Morgan designed this vehicle with fuel cells as the focal point, rather than trying to fit in fuel cells in a space which was originally designed for a gasoline engine. This change in designing focus has made the Morgan fuel cell roadster stand out in a crowd.

The Lifecar, as the name suggests uses lightweight materials in the manufacturing process. This particular design is modified from Morgan’s Aero 8 full-aluminum chassis which adds to the increased level of efficiency. With the deliberate intention of retaining its light weight, all extra equipment has been kept to the bare minimum. In fact, this Lifecar, which is without a stereo, weighs close to 1550 pounds or 700 kg. According to Morgan, this is expected to be three times more energy efficient than similar cars of its class.

Needless to mention, the hydrogen infrastructure problem will continue to plague the viability of the Lifecar as well. Presently it is in the developmental stage and the first test drive is expected later in the year.