Passat Lingyu Fuel Cell Vehicles Arrive in the U.S.

Volkswagen Group of America will be testing 16 Shanghai Volkswagen Passat Lingyu fuel cell vehicles as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership. The vehicles, part of a Chinese joint venture between VW and Shanghai Auto, first debuted during the 2008 Olympics.

The zero-emission cars were utilized in Beijing as fleet vehicles, clocking almost 50,000 miles. They were developed by the two auto companies and scientists from Tongji University. The Passat Lingyu can reach speeds of about 90 mph, with a range of 146 miles. Their only by-product emissions is water and oxygen.

"The Passat Lingyu prototype reflects Volkswagen Group's long standing commitment to develop new solutions for a clean future," said VW head researcher Professor Dr. Jurgen Leohold in a press release.

Rumor has it mass production of the Shanghai Volkswagen Passat Lingyu will start in China some time next year. If all goes well with a test run in California, Volkswagen would certainly consider bringing the vehicle to the U.S. as a fleet model.

Press Release

Volkswagen Group of America Announces U.S. Arrival of 16 Passat Lingyu Fuel Cell Vehicles

- Zero Emissions Vehicles to Participate in Fuel Cell Demonstrations in Sacramento -

Volkswagen Group of America announced today that 16 Passat Lingyu vehicles will participate in fleet demonstrations at the California Fuel Cell Partnership in Sacramento, Calif. These prototype vehicles were developed in China and debuted at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Passat Lingyu fuel cell vehicles are being added to the existing fleet of eight Volkswagen fuel cell vehicles also at the California Fuel Cell Partnership. In total, these 24 vehicles create the largest fleet of fuel cell cars from a single manufacturer at one location anywhere in the world.

"The Passat Lingyu prototype reflects Volkswagen Group's long standing commitment to develop new solutions for a clean future," said Professor Dr. Jurgen Leohold, Head of Volkswagen Group Research.

Volkswagen Group worked with scientists at Tongji University to create these fuel cell vehicles that are based on one of China's best-selling Volkswagen platforms. The Passat Lingyu is capable of traveling at highway speeds up to 90 mph and as far as 146 miles on a single tank of fuel. The only byproduct released from the tailpipe is water and oxygen.

"These vehicles logged nearly 50,000 miles in Beijing - with zero harmful emissions. We can think of no better place to next exhibit this environmentally-friendly technology than at the California Fuel Cell Partnership," said John Tillman, program manager for Volkswagen's U.S. Advanced Powertrain Research Program. In addition to working with the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the company also operates a number of university research projects in the state.

In a quest toward sustainable mobility, Volkswagen Group is exploring a number of new technologies to achieve greater fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions. The company's commitment to the environment also covers the entire lifespan of a car, from the earliest stages of the manufacturing process to the vehicle's final trip to the recycling yard.

"We will not achieve sustainability alone," said Anna Schneider, director of government-industry relations for Volkswagen Group of America. "We need global solutions to global problems and these international and domestic partnerships are absolutely critical to advancing our environmental objectives."