11.10.2004 All eyes will be on the Fiat Panda Hydrogen concept as the 'Hydrogen Mobility: Research and Industry embark on a path of convergence' conference opens in Rome

One of the major issues facing the car industry today, respect for the environment, is one of particular priority for Fiat Auto.

This is proven by its products currently on the market, its research and development projects, the initiatives for sustainable mobility it has implemented in conjunction with the public administration and its investments in the development of new products.

Protecting the environment is a key factor for Fiat Auto in the development of future models. In this context, the presentation of the Panda Hydrogen is merely the latest expression of a process of evolution, which in recent years has placed Fiat in a leading role on an international scale.

In particular, Fuel Cell technology for automotive applications is a subject of great interest among major manufacturers, which through research and the development of demonstration prototypes, are confirming the technology's real potential and environmental advantages.

In this dynamic context, Fiat Auto introduces the Panda Hydrogen. As part of a larger research programme, Fiat is using this revolutionary model to explore new technology, evaluate how the car behaves in real-world conditions and assess its environmental advantages.

While Fuel Cell based drivetrains will almost certainly not be available on a large scale until at least the end of the next decade, Fiat Auto has already been actively researching this solution for a number of years, as shown in 2001 by the debut of the 'Elettra H2 Fuel Cell' and, more recently, by the Seicento Hydrogen. Both prototypes were produced by the Fiat Research Centre in conjunction with the Ministry for the Environment. The Panda Hydrogen encapsulates what has been learnt so far, and moves on from an experimental research stage in the laboratory to real-world testing of a vehicle in the field.

The decision to use Fiat's new supermini as the first experimental vehicle for small fleets was made because, as Fuel Cell technology is primarily intended to substantially reduce the environmental impact of the automobile, a car for prevalently urban use, such as the Panda, will give us more relevant answers regarding environmental problems in our cities.

The Panda Hydrogen is the most eloquent example of Fiat Auto's substantial commitment in this particular field of research. However, this does not mean that the company is concentrating any less on the research and development of other technologies that may find useful application in the short to mid-term future. In recent years, alternative solutions have arisen alongside advances in traditional petrol and diesel engine technology. Fiat Auto has been actively involved across the board in all of these developments, including electric and hybrid drive systems and natural gas power, as illustrated by the petrol/methane dual fuel versions (Natural Power) of the Punto, Doblò, Ducato and Multipla.

With these products, Fiat Auto is the sole manufacturer in the world to offer a comprehensive range of vehicles with alternative traction or fuel systems, a testimony to the group's concrete efforts in the development of products for sustainable mobility. In addition to these sophisticated, state of the art models, Fiat is also active in the reduction of emissions and consumption, through initiatives of far-reaching social and environmental scope, such as the Methane Project.

A constant, long-term commitment, which is confirmed today with the presentation of the Panda Hydrogen. A commitment that expresses merely one aspect of the ambitious joint effort initiated some years ago with the Ministry for the Environment.

Today, in addressing problems related to urban mobility, a relationship of collaboration between the public and private sectors is an increasing necessity. There is, in fact, no single solution to this issue, but rather a mosaic of solutions that must be implemented in harmony with the urban fabric. This is why it is the public sector's responsibility to define guidelines, while it is the automotive industry's task to develop, produce and promote ever more eco-compatible cars, in compliance with each city's plans and choices for mobility.

Inside the Panda Hydrogen

Tomorrow's cars will be the result of a difficult compromise between different, and often conflicting, needs: low energy consumption and low emissions, high levels of safety, great versatility and low industrial and operating costs.

This is why Fiat Auto decided to follow two courses of action simultaneously. On the one hand it will continue developments to perfect traditional petrol and diesel engine technology, on the other, it will develop cars with methane powered internal combustion engines and vehicles with alternative traction systems that generate no emissions at all (Zero Emissions vehicles).

In the short term, methane power represents the most suitable technology to resolve pollution problems in the country's larger urban and metropolitan areas. In the long term, hydrogen - as an energy vector solution for vehicle propulsion - will undoubtedly be the most promising prospect.

Regarding the latter, most of the automotive industry's efforts today are focused on PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cells, which - extremely efficiently - generate electricity through a chemical process recombining hydrogen and oxygen. This type of fuel cell offers a number of advantages: rapid response times to vehicle energy demands; high specific power and energy density compared with other fuel cell technologies; relatively simple construction. All of these characteristics make PEM cells particularly suitable for the production of light, strong and reliable generators to produce electrical power on board a vehicle.

The Panda Hydrogen falls under this branch of research. It is the first fuel cell car built by Fiat Auto with performance and usability comparable to a conventional car. The Panda Hydrogen will be used in experimental vehicle fleets in an urban context to validate fuel cell technology.

THE VEHICLE

The Panda Hydrogen is based on 'hybrid full power' architecture. The stack (the heart of the fuel cell electricity generating system) is connected directly to the traction motor, and provides the vehicle with all the energy needed. The small battery pack is only called into action under acceleration, improving the system's overall performance. The use of batteries also means that part of the kinetic energy otherwise dispersed in braking can be recuperated. It also facilitates starting in cold conditions and, lastly, offers higher degrees of efficiency.

The stack is installed under the bonnet at the front of the car, and consists of a number of electric cells connected in series, within which hydrogen and oxygen atoms combine, with the assistance of a catalyst, producing water and heat, and generating electric energy with zero emissions.

The system, which is fuelled by compressed hydrogen at approximately 1.5 Bar and oxygen contained in air (also compressed), generates up to 40 kW of electric energy at a very high degree of efficiency (65% at 20% of maximum power).

The electric motor is an asynchronous three-phase alternating current unit, and the transmission and battery pack are located at the rear of the vehicle, under the boot.

The hydrogen used by the fuel cell is stored at a pressure of 350 Bar in two tanks, made from composite material, installed under the floorpan: the first is located in the central tunnel whereas the second is installed under the rear seat. This means that all the distinctive characteristics of the New Panda passenger compartment are retained, including the excellent roominess of the production model. Lastly, there are also ancillary circuits for the hydrogen fuel system, air management and to cool the stack itself.

PERFORMANCE

The fuel cell system used in the Panda Hydrogen produces a maximum electrical power of 40 kW, which powers the electric traction motor.
The performance figures measured for the vehicle are as follows:

- top speed 130 Km/h;
- acceleration from 0-50 Km/h in under 7 seconds;
- maximum climbable gradient at take-off over 20%.

The two hydrogen tanks, with a total volume of 68 litres, give the car a range of over 220 Km. Refuelling times are very short, requiring less than 10 minutes, compared with 8 hours needed to completely recharge the batteries of a conventional electric vehicle.

POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS

The technical solutions proposed today in the Panda Hydrogen will still require further, significant development regarding costs, fuel cell powered motor operation, fuel storage and the durability and reliability of components.

However, the experimental use of a fleet of fuel cell vehicles in a monitored, urban context will provide the means to assess, in the real world, the proposals advanced by research and industry, and will give users a chance to become familiar with these new vehicles.

The most critical aspect for the future of fuel cell vehicles remains, however, the establishment of an infrastructure for the production and distribution of hydrogen, which today is still a very long way from reality. This necessarily imposes a long-term perspective on any scenario for the widespread distribution of hydrogen cars, with, perhaps, the exception of niche applications in the short term.