Zero Emission Volkswagen Tiguan will Travel to 31 Cities in 13 Days
HERNDON, Va., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen's Hydrogen Fuel Cell
concept vehicle, the HyMotion Tiguan, will travel from Portland, Maine to
Los Angeles, Calif. over the next 13 days as part of the National Hydrogen
Road Tour, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the
California Fuel Cell Partnership, the U.S. Department of Energy and the
National Hydrogen Association. A dedicated Web blog,
http://vwhydrogentour.com will provide daily updates and photos from the
historic trip.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080811/CLM072 )
"Volkswagen is thrilled to join with our federal and state partners and
other OEMs to be part of this historic event highlighting hydrogen's
potential as a future energy source," said John Tillman program manager,
U.S. Advanced Powertrain Research Program, Volkswagen Group of America.
"Volkswagen has long been committed to fuel efficient vehicles and this is
evident in the research and engineering behind the Tiguan HyMotion. With
water as the only byproduct, this incredible vehicle has zero emissions and
has a top speed of 93 miles per hour."
The Hydrogen Road Tour will visit 31 cities across the country as part
of an effort to raise awareness of hydrogen's potential as a fuel and
showcase these concept vehicles in real world driving conditions. The Road
Tour demonstrates the united contributions of industry, government and
academia in advancing hydrogen technology and meeting driving and
infrastructure needs to bring these concept vehicles to market in the
coming years.
Volkswagen is particularly pleased that the tour will stop in
Chattanooga, Tenn., home of its newly announced U.S. production facility.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Center for Energy
Transportation and the Environment (CETE) will host the tour and
Congressman Zach Wamp, a proponent of alternative fuel research will
attend. The event will take place on August 18th from 10:00am to 12:00 noon
at the First Tennessee Pavilion and will provide invited guests, the
public, and media with hands-on ride and drive experience of the hydrogen
vehicles being displayed on this tour.
"Advanced transportation rolling into Chattanooga on the heels of
Volkswagen's historic announcement bodes well for the Tennessee Valley
Technology Corridor. The vehicles of the future will be built right here in
our region as we lead our nation to greater efficiency and sustainability,"
said Congressman Zach Wamp.
"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering is
proud to be able to partner with the U.S. Department of Transportation to
bring the hydrogen tour to Chattanooga. The effort to heighten the public's
awareness of the significant progress made in hydrogen-fueled vehicles is
significant as we work to address our dependency on petroleum. The decision
to include Chattanooga in this campaign showcases the research achievements
of our faculty and students and helps focus attention on the outstanding
educational program we offer," said Dr. Will Sutton, dean of the College of
Engineering at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Volkswagen will join BMW, Mercedes Benz, General Motors, Honda,
Hyundai, Kia and Nissan in the tour. Other participants include Arizona
Public Service, Centralina, Clean Cities, Chevron, Connecticut Center for
Advanced Technology, The Center for Transportation and the Environment, Las
Vegas Valley Water District, Maine Hydrogen Energy Center, Maine Clean
Communities, Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, Missouri S&T, National
Hydrogen Association, Powertech Labs, The PublicGen Companies, Shell
Hydrogen, South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance, Southern Fuel
Cell Coalition Triangle Clean Cities, US Army, US Environmental Protection
Agency, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc, HF-150 and Linde/BMW liquid
refueling station.
Tiguan HyMotion
The Tiguan HyMotion concept features a fuel cell system integrated in
the engine compartment capable of 107 horsepower. With an assist from the
electric motor, the Tiguan HyMotion advances to 134 horsepower. The top
speed of the Tiguan HyMotion is 93 mph and it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph
in about 14 seconds.
A lithium ion battery with a charge capacity of 6.8 Ampere-hours (Ah)
serves as an auxiliary energy storage device with a maximum power output of
22 kW. The battery is charged by recovered braking energy (recuperation) or
by the fuel cell. The HyMotion is a full functioning vehicle that makes no
compromises on safety or passenger comfort with the addition of its fuel
cell powertrain system. The battery system is installed in the trunk
beneath the dual cargo floor available on the production Tiguan. The 700
bar hydrogen tank was integrated in the area beneath the floor in the rear
bench seat and cargo area. It can hold up to 3.2 kilograms of hydrogen
(H2).
Basic operation of fuel cells
The key component of each individual fuel cell -- a number of them are
combined into a stack -- is a proton-conducting membrane. The membrane is
located between each anode and cathode pair. Hydrogen flows on the anode
side, and oxygen from air flows into the cell on the cathode side. When
many of these cells are combined in a stack, enough energy can be generated
to drive a vehicle.
In each cell a catalyst assists the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to
form water on the cathode side. The fuel cell thereby converts chemical
energy directly into electrical energy in an oxidation, or "cold"
combustion process. The generated "exhaust" is clean water vapor.
The fuel cell is supplied fuel from the compressed hydrogen tank and
oxygen from the air by an external air inlet and outputs the electrical
energy it generates -- the power -- via a converter and a downstream
electrical system rectifier -- to one or more electric motors. The Tiguan
HyMotion is nearly silent when driven, and it is emissions-free.
About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Volkswagen AG, the world's fourth largest automaker and the largest
carmaker in Europe. It houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of
distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti,
Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the
company's headquarters are in Herndon, Va.
Volkswagen Group of America brings to the U.S. vehicles that marry the
science of engineering and the art of styling, with the goal of offering
attractive, safe, and environmentally sound automobiles that are
competitive and set world standards in their respective classes. The
company has approximately 2,500 employees in the United States and sells
its vehicles through an 800-strong dealer network. With increasing
popularity for its brands in the U.S., the company has set the goal of
reaching one million car sales in the country by 2018.
For more information, visit http://www.volkswagengroupamerica.com .
About The Center for Energy, Transportation and the Environment
The Center for Energy, Transportation and the Environment (CETE) is a
program of applied research at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
to develop and deploy technologies that utilize clean and secure sources of
energy. CETE resides within the College of Engineering and Computer
Science, which strives to serve and support the people, businesses, and
industries of the greater Chattanooga metropolitan area. The College exists
as the region's principal resource for engineering education, applied
research, and service programs that are grounded in the application of
scientific and mathematical principles and based on a commitment to
interdisciplinary study. The College recognizes the importance of
developing clean, renewable energy systems for transportation as a critical
element in national and global efforts to reduce the harmful effects of
engine exhaust gases while promoting energy conservation and independence.
CETE is intended to leverage the technical skills of the University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and the application knowledge of a wide
range of partners such as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Chattanooga
Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and others to complete
projects encompassing a variety of renewable energy sources as solutions to
this nation's energy challenges.
SOURCE Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.volkswagengroupamerica.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080811/CLM072
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org AP PhotoExpress
Network: PRN8 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/948250.html /
CONTACT:
Jill Bratina, +1-703-364-7250,
jill.bratina@vw.com, Tom Wegehaupt, +1-703-364-7624,
Thomas.wegehaupt@vw.com, both for Volkswagen Group of America,
Inc.
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