Volkswagen Tiguan HyMotion at 2007 Bibendum Challenge

Tiguan HyMotion and Passat Lingyu

The Volkswagen Tiguan has barely made its world debut (at Frankfurt) and a 'green' spec version makes it own world premiere at the 2007 Bibendum challenge, this year held in Shanghai, China PR. Next to the Tiguan HyMotion, Volkswagen is also running the zero-emissions Chinese Passat Lingyu and a small legion of diesel powered cars.

The Tiguan HyMotion is powered by an electric motor powered in turn by a litium-ion battery. The battery can last upto 6 ampere-hours and is recharged through storing braking energy and the hydrogen fuel cell. Top speed is 150 km/h and it has been clocked at 14 seconds speeding from stand-still to 100 km/h.

The Volkswagen Passat Lingyu has been developed by Volkswagen and Tongji University in China. The Lingyu run on an electric engine producing 88 kW of power which uses a lithium-ion battery. The battery is also charged through preserving braking energy and through the university's almost entirely self-built, fourth-generation low-temperature fuel cell.

Press Release

Volkswagen looks forward to the future

Volkswagen is driving its advanced research and development of environmentally-friendly drive technologies with full force. Europe’s most successful automotive producer is applying the entire array of technologies of our time. In the framework of the 2007 Bibendum Challenge, Volkswagen is now showing six highlights from this array of technologies in Shanghai as well as innovative and environmentally friendly production and research vehicles. Two of the prototypes are world premieres: the zero emissions version of the Passat Lingyu and the Tiguan HyMotion – in both cases the energy for their electric motors is generated by a hydrogen fuel cell.

Tiguan – Present and future are both on board the new SUV

The Tiguan HyMotion demonstrates by example just how quickly Volkswagen Research goes to task. Hardly any time had passed since the production launch of the Tiguan version with conventional engines when the first research vehicle with a fuel cell was ready. Incidentally, the gasoline (TSI) and diesel (TDI) engines of the Tiguan are not conventional in the classic sense either. Take the example of the diesels: They already fulfill – and this is unique in the SUV field – the European EU 5 emissions standard, which does not go into effect until the end of 2009. And the TSI gasoline direct injection engines, every one of which is charged, are prime examples of efficiency and dynamics. The Tiguan HyMotion meanwhile is looking even further into the future. It chauffeurs its passengers to their destinations at speeds of up to 150 km/h without any type of emissions.

Passat Lingyu – its fuel cell was developed by Chinese researchers

Also ahead of its time is the zero emissions version of the Passat Lingyu. The prototype jointly developed in China by Volkswagen and Tongji University is an example of Volkswagen’s long-term collaborative work with the world’s most creative thinkers on all of the world’s continents in developing new solutions for a clean future. Tongji University, which by the way was founded by Germans as a “medical school” in 1907, is one of the most respected universities in Asia today.

Jetta BlueTDI – it will help to save fuel in the USA. A lot of fuel

Also participating in the 2007 Bibendum Challenge are innovative cars like the new Jetta BlueTDI – the most advanced diesels in the world work under its hood. It will debut in the USA in 2008, where it will contribute to fuel savings in a big way – up to 35 percent savings compared to the gasoline engines used in America. That will help the environment. Immediately.

Passat BlueMotion – it is already reducing CO2 emissions enormously in Europe

Also bringing immediate relief when it comes to CO2 reduction is the Passat BlueMotion. It is already on the market in Europe. This Volkswagen has turned the world of high-end mid-size sedans and station wagons on its head within an extremely short time. That is because no other competitor can match its fuel consumption of just 5.1 liters diesel per 100 kilometers.

Passat TSI EcoFuel – possibly the sportiest natural gas drive in the world

The engine of another Passat at the Bibendum Challenge is another prototype: the TSI EcoFuel that is charged with supercharger and turbocharger. It runs on natural gas. This engine is writing history as the first natural gas driven engine. Not only is it clean and economical, but thanks to its impressive performance and hefty torque it is also a lot of fun in any of life’s driving situations.

Touran CCS – the best properties of gasoline and diesel engines merge together here

Meanwhile, the Touran CCS (Combined Combustion System) shows just how the best of the world’s gasoline and diesel engines can merge into a new type of engine. When its tank is filled with synthetic fuel, such as SunFuel (made from biomass), this engine operates practically CO2-neutral. A milestone. SunFuel will advance to become one of the energy sources of the future. Energy for a future that is fun. CCS engines, fuel cells, BlueTDI, TSI EcoFuel – all of these are drive systems that make one look forward to the future. And they are solutions that in the future will make people look forward to a Volkswagen.

Prototype of Tiguan HyMotion is the first fuel cell SUV by Volkswagen

In Shanghai, for the first time in the world Volkswagen is presenting a SUV prototype with a fuel cell: the Tiguan HyMotion. Compared to the recently introduced Touran HyMotion, performance of the fuel cell drive has been further improved, and its efficiency has been optimized. The fuel cell system with an output power of 80 kW was integrated in the Tiguan’s engine compartment. The electric motor operates here too. It develops a maximum power of 100 kW. The top speed of the Tiguan HyMotion is 150 km/h; the prototype, weighing in at 1,870 kilograms, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h 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. Its maximum power output is 22 kW. The battery is charged by recovered braking energy (recuperation) or by the fuel cell. The battery system is installed in the trunk, specifically beneath the dual cargo floor that can be ordered on the production Tiguan. The 700 bar hydrogen tank was integrated in the area beneath the rear bench seat and the cargo area. It can hold up to 3.2 kilograms of hydrogen (H2). Interior space is not impaired by the fuel cell drive system.

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. It is located between each anode and cathode pair. Hydrogen flows on the anode side, and 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, hydrogen and oxygen react to form water on the cathode side. The fuel cell thereby converts chemical energy directly into electrical energy in an oxidation process, a so-called “cold” combustion process. The generated “exhaust” is nothing but clean water vapor.

The fuel cell is supplied from the hydrogen tank and an external air inlet. The fuel cell outputs the electrical energy it generates – the power – via a converter and a downstream electrical system rectifier – to one or more electric motors. The resulting car is nearly silent when driven, and it is always driven emissions-free.

Zero emissions Passat was constructed by renowned Tongji University

The zero emissions version of the Passat Lingyu is ahead of its time. The prototype, jointly developed by Volkswagen and Tongji University in China, is an example of Volkswagen’s long-term collaborative work with the world’s most creative thinkers in developing new solutions for a clean future. Tongji University, which by the way was founded by Germans as a “medical school” in 1907, is one of the most respected universities in Asia today.

The fact is: The students and professors developed the Passat Lingyu to be one of the first vehicles whose fuel cell was practically entirely created at a Chinese university. An extraordinary performance. The Passat is powered by an 88 kW strong electric motor. The low-temperature fuel cell from the Tongji University supplies the energy; it is the fourth generation to be developed on the campus so far.

The hydrogen fuel cell is located in the underbody of the Passat Lingyu. The fuel cell system develops a peak power of 55 kW. The energy recovered by converting hydrogen (H2) into water (H2O) is fed into a lithium ion battery. It is located beneath the rear bench seat and has a capacity of eight Ampere-hours (Ah) at 376 Volt (V).

The gaseous hydrogen (total of 3.2 kilograms) is transferred to a carbon fiber reinforced pressure tank at 350 bar. Assuming an average consumption of about 1.36 kilograms H per 100 kilometers, the theoretical range would be 235 kilometers on one tank of fuel.

The torque-strong electric drive (210 Nm) delivers a very special and fascination. Mounted on the driven front axle, the motor provides for reasonable acceleration times (0-100 km/h: 15 s) and a top speed of 140 km/h. During faster accelerations the lithium ion battery plays a supporting role. When the Passat Lingyu is braked, on the other hand, energy flows back into the battery. It is located beneath the rear bench seat and has a capacity of eight Ampere-hours (Ah) at 376 Volt (V).