Click the Fusion for a high-res gallery of the action from Bonneville
Retired Ford employee Rick Byrnes joined the 200 mph club at Bonneville for the third time on Wednesday as he drove the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 to a benchmark of 207.297 mph. This marks the first time that a production bodied (sort of) fuel cell-powered vehicle has exceeded 200 mph. After more than a year of development, construction and testing and three days of running on the desert salt, the team finally met its target. Check out AutoblogGreen for more on the technology that made this water vapor emitting car crack the double century mark.
[Source: Ford]HYDROGEN FUEL CELL FUSION SETS LAND SPEED RECORD
By Kristopher Spencer, FCN
DEARBORN, Aug. 15, 2007 -- The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 raced to a record 207.297 miles per hour Wednesday at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, which makes the world's first and only production vehicle-based fuel cell race car the fastest as well.
After more than one year of design and development and 10 years of hydrogen vehicle research, Ford's fuel cell vehicle team battled technical difficulties and a harsh desert environment en route to joining the 200 MPH Club of Bonneville Speed Week, an annual event that attracts hundreds of racing teams.
"What we've accomplished is nothing short of an industry first," said Matt Zuehlk, lead engineer on the project. "No other automaker in the world has come close."
Zuehlk added that Ford's historic run at Bonneville is to further expand its technological horizons with fuel cell-powered vehicles, because it is a fuel that could someday play a key role in meeting the energy needs of the transportation sector. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 is Ford's latest environmental innovation and is another step on the road toward commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The project is a partnership between Ford, The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing. Rick Byrnes, a veteran Bonneville racer and retired Ford Powertrain component design engineer, piloted the Hydrogen 999 at Bonneville.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FLR @ Aug 16th 2007 1:38PM
I'm all for 'green' and technology,etc, I respect the accomplishment...............but...................................
I just don't get it. Getting something to go 200 mph is cool, but so what.
The Fusion is not remotely stock. The drivetrain is as exotic as they come. Hydrogen Fuel cells have been around for 30+ years (see Space Shuttle). So they have a fuel cell that powers an electric engine in a very aerodynamic vehicle. It got up to 200 mph. Great...good job...way to go.
Now....get this technology on the street and then I'll start to appreciate this accomplishment and begin to really care.
hotrod @ Aug 16th 2007 1:47PM
Wow. You obviously have no idea how much it takes to get into the 200mph club. Many men consider earning their 200mph caps one of the greatest accomplishments of their lives. And here these guys do it with a powerplant that has never done this before, pushing the technology in new directions (and undoubtedly closer to real-world application), and you ask "so what?"
Have some respect.
The car itself may not be "real world" but the extra efficiency they squeezed out of the fuel cells to hit 200mph definitely is. It will filter down to the rest of us with time.
SpinDaddy @ Aug 16th 2007 1:51PM
Actually fuel cells have been around longer than thirty years. This is a good way for Ford to get some good PR and conduct some research at the same time.
While there are certainly significant challenges from where to get the H2 to costs, public acceptance, etc but lots and lots of r&d money is pouring into fuel cell development. While it might well look unfeasible today, If I had told my grandparents that I could have a phone that plays movies accesses something called the internet and fits in my pocket they would never have believed me.
Let's keep watching fuel cells.
studemax @ Aug 16th 2007 3:16PM
Racing improves the breed.
FLR @ Aug 16th 2007 3:39PM
My first sentence says "I respect the accomplishment...."
Anyways....
This isn't some guy in his garage with a lifelong dream to get to 200 mph. Look at the side of the car...it says FORD across it. Ford threw a lot of money at this with the help of some engineering students. This is a professional attempt, which is why I'm not all that impressed.
Heck, a $70k Corvette Z06 will do 200 mph.
John @ Aug 16th 2007 5:00PM
I'm sure it may come as a surprise to you, but Ford and the university students probably didn't do this to impress you, and I for one don't give a damn that you are not impressed.
Bob @ Aug 16th 2007 5:45PM
Amen John. Some folks get out in the garage and turn wrenches for their speed, others sit on their thumbs. Kudos to the engineers and students who got this effort from the drawing table to the Salt. Nice work.
Schulteboy @ Aug 17th 2007 7:32AM
ahh but this is some guy who had a lifelong dream to top 200mph. He did first in 1998 in a Merkur with a 4-cylinder engine. Rick Byrnes is a wrench-wielding mutha and he built that Merkur in his garage with some of his buddies. By the way, he's a great person. No wonder Ford tapped him to drive this awesome green machine!
Congratulations Rick!
mikec @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:42PM
This is where your wrong in your statement of " some guy in his garage".....The driver, Rick Byrnes did start in his garage many years ago with the goal of reaching 200 mph and he achieved it with a Merkur 4 cyl car...it was always his dream to do this with a 2.3L turbo car...having worked with him in the past and personally knowing him for 27 years or so, I know the trials, expense and tribulations he went thru to get there...Ford simply relied on someone right around the corner from headquarters that was experienced in running at the flats, my hats off to Rick for achieving this..it was always my dream to be associated with Ford racing, but it never came true...trust me..there were alot of sacrifices involved on Ricks way to his first 200 mph hat...Congrats Rick !!...Mike
Evan @ Aug 16th 2007 3:42PM
This is a doubly strong accomplishment for Ford. First off, it showcases that the company can still push the innovation envelope - the 999 number comes from the famous land speed record-setting car driven by ol' Henry himself. Secondly, it reminds people that the company makes *cars*, not just terrible headlines. Speed is cool. Green speed is even cooler.
Nellydesign @ Aug 16th 2007 4:03PM
Hooray for the water vapor emitting Hydrogen fuel cell! A new day has dawned for the reduction of greenhouse gases!
Oh wait. Isn't water vapor the most abundant greenhouse gas on the planet? And has anyone given thought to what a whole lot more water vapor coming out of our cars is going to do to our climate? (not to mention humidity levels!)
If they DO figure out a way to make Hydrogen a viable source of fuel for cars I hope someone also comes up with a way to capture, recondense and store the water vapor in-car. I'm sure the world could do with more fresh water to go around, just not in it's gaseous form. I'm all for alternative fuels, but I hope we aren't guilty of the same lack of foresight the inventors of the gasoline engine were.
Barney @ Aug 16th 2007 4:12PM
I finally heard from someone who see's the same as I. I also vision the problems of icing in colder climates. Cloudy days are ahead if they find a way to make hydrogen cheaper and without using fossil fuels.
bathtub gin @ Aug 16th 2007 11:43PM
I agree with both of you, but considering the crispy brown texture of my lawn this summer, they can come down here and drive the Fusion around my block 200 times if they want. We could use more water vapor in the air around here.
Nellydesign @ Aug 17th 2007 10:04AM
I see many possibilities with water being used in-car. Maybe part of it is piped into the windshield fluid reservoir. So you just buy a concentrate instead of the fully mixed fluid. Or maybe its chilled somehow and used in an in-car water dispenser. Tons of possibilities, I just hope people are thinking of them and not just going with releasing water vapor exhaust into the air.
I definitely know what you're talking about with the brown grass though:) Maybe they should be equipped with sprinkler systems on the side of the car that spray the grass on the side of the road! One of the reasons the city areas in Detroit look so blighted is all the dead grass on the roadsides and freeways. Greening it up would sure be nice.
John @ Aug 17th 2007 10:45AM
Sorry about all of your water vapor anxieties, but this story was about one car....on a dry lake bed...What's the problem?
MerlinMerkur @ Jan 12th 2008 7:16PM
So itll rain more. Didnt we all have droughts this season.
I can handle a little more rain. TBH, I'd rather have a little more humidity/icing/rain -whatever your particular climate may yeild as a result of hydrogen vapor emitting cars driving around- than the steel melting acidic carbon soot that comes outta your grandmas pontiac.
Show me the water.
Bryan @ Aug 16th 2007 10:37PM
Go Ford!
Healeyblue @ Aug 17th 2007 11:37AM
Interesting that nobody has picked up on the significance of the number 999. That was the number on the first Ford racer ever. It was driven by Barney Oldfield and helped put both Ford and Oldfield on the map.
John @ Aug 17th 2007 2:02PM
Evan did mention in his post above that ol' Henry drove the 999 himself. You are both correct. Oldfield began winning races and setting records with 999 (named after a record-setting locomotive), then Henry took over in 1904 and broke Oldfield's previous record for the mile at 91.4 mph. "999" certainly has a prominent place in Ford, racing, and the history of speed.
Level @ Aug 26th 2007 10:52PM
wooopy 200mph ::rolleyes::
Granted 200mph is fast but in a world where some production cars are able to achieve 200mph it really is not a big deal...too much hype if you ask me...