Nissan unveils world’s first solid-oxide fuel cell vehicle

Nissan has unveiled the world’s first solid-oxide fuel cell vehicle, offering a cruising range of more than 600km.

The prototype vehicle uses the Nissan e-NV200 as the base vehicle, featuring a 24kW battery and a tank capacity of 30 litres.

The powertrain is highly efficient and runs on 100-percent ethanol or ethanol-blended water, which can be sourced from crops such as sugarcane and corn. These are widely available in countries in North and South America and the development of the technology could provide a low-emission option in areas that are restricted by existing charging infrastructure.

The vehicle has very low emissions, which are offset by the growing process, meaning it can be classed as carbon neutral while offering the driving range of petrol- engine vehicles.

Nissan will now conduct further field tests on public roads across Brazil using the prototype.

Carlos Ghosn, president and chief executive officer, Nissan, said: “The e-Bio Fuel-Cell offers eco-friendly transportation and creates opportunities for regional energy production.

In the future, the e-Bio Fuel-Cell will become even more user-friendly. Ethanol-blended water is easier and safer to handle than most other fuels. Without the need to create new infrastructure, it has great potential to drive market growth.”

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