Start from Salzburg toward Turin

The next stage to Turin goes more than about 730 kms. While today's diesel cars of this size have loosely 1300 kms of reach, here it goes only with tank stop.

The range problem

So nicely it is that a car with hydrogen goes which one can produce with electric power from solar energy or wind energy, one must also see like such a car in the today's market is to be arranged. I had 400 kms of reach with my 1978 VW Passat LS with 1,600 cubic centimetres 70 hp of carburettor engine and 40 liters gasoline tank. My Renault Espace TXE of 1988 had with the possibly same consumption already 650 kms of reach with 65 liters of tank. My new Seat Alhambra can be filled with a trick with 84 liters. This is enough for easily 1,300 kms without gas station.

Without a scenario which the necessity drastically increases, like possibly galloping oil price or high CO2 tax, most people would not buy such a car.

Opel Zafira hydrogen fuel cells car

Marathon more than 10,000 kms from Hammerfest to Lisbon with one Opel Zafira fuel cells car. On the 2nd of June Salzburg is in the row. Opportunity for a test run.

Section drawing: Opel Zafira fuel cell car
On the 10,000 kms of marathon through Europe this cut car Opel Zafira is to be seen in the accompanying truck for press conferences also.

Hydrogen compression tank for fuel cell cars
Only 3.4 kgs of hydrogen instead of 4.6 kgs in liquid hydrogen tank. For it, however, no losses by vaporization. For opportunity drivers on short distances the better solution.

Liquid hydrogen tank for a hydrogen car
Here built into an Opel Zafira. However, with 4.6 kgs about 400 kms of reach, for it hydrogen gets lost constantly by warming in the tank and the vaporization resulting from it.

Electric motor of the fuel cell car Zafira
60 kW or 82 HP of maximum power, 12000 U/min and 215 Nm maximum torque. In spite of 160 km/h top speed of the fuel cells Opel Zafira, no gear is necessary.

Test drive Opel Zafira hydrogen fuel cell car
Only gas pedal and brake. No gearshift but only push buttons for Forward, Backward and parkings. Thus it is a matter of disusing the left foot for the test run for the first time.

Fuel cell in Opel Zafira
	200 fuel cells in series produce 125 to 200 volts. Top power 94 kW. The power density is 1.6 kW per liter or 0.94 kW per kg.

Cut of engine space hydrogen fuel cells car
	Where otherwise the engine is, is the fuel cell and about that point the voltage converter. It converts the delivered electric power to a higher voltage for the electric motor .

Tank conection for hydrogen
	Tank fill conection for liquid hydrogen. Not to warm up the extremely cold liquid hydrogen on the way to the tank and to gasify therefore a lot of technology is necessary.

Railway station Salzburg: stage of the hydrogen Zafira
	On the 2nd of June, 2004 the fuel cells Opel Zafira marathon stops in Salzburg. About 60% of 10,000 kms of tour of Hammerfest to Lisbon have already gone.

Test car fuel cells Opel Zafira
	With the 10000 kms marathon are 2 fuel cell cars. While the real marathon car is underway towards Turin, the second is available for test runs.

Opel Zafira consumption
	1.2 kgs of hydrogen on 100 kms in the European consumption cycle. However, hydrogen is very full energy with 33.3 kWh per kg. There are about 40 kWh on 100 kms.

Hydrogen car: really the future?
	Can this really be the future? Especially both tank solutions are not satisfyingly. With normal temperatures liquid fuel has many advantages.

Context description: GM general motors Opel Zafira hydrogen fuelcell car hydrogencar fuelcellcar cars hydrogencars fuelcellcars vehicle hydrogenvehicle fuelcellvehicle vehicles hydrogenvehicles fuelcellvehicles marathon event events date time month 6 June spring summer 2004-06-02

Section drawing: Opel Zafira fuel cell car
	On the 10,000 kms of marathon through Europe this cut car Opel Zafira is to be seen in the accompanying truck for press conferences also.

Hydrogen compression tank for fuel cell cars
	Only 3.4 kgs of hydrogen instead of 4.6 kgs in liquid hydrogen tank. For it, however, no losses by vaporization. For opportunity drivers on short distances the better solution.

Liquid hydrogen tank for a hydrogen car
	Here built into an Opel Zafira. However, with 4.6 kgs about 400 kms of reach, for it hydrogen gets lost constantly by warming in the tank and the vaporization resulting from it.

Electric motor of the fuel cell car Zafira
	60 kW or 82 HP of maximum power, 12000 U/min and 215 Nm maximum torque. In spite of 160 km/h top speed of the fuel cells Opel Zafira, no gear is necessary.

Test drive Opel Zafira hydrogen fuel cell car
	Only gas pedal and brake. No gearshift but only push buttons for Forward, Backward and parkings. Thus it is a matter of disusing the left foot for the test run for the first time.