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VW has adapted its globe-trotting up! concept for California's green sensibilities, packaged it like a micro-sized microbus and has brought the result to Los Angeles. The space up! blue is a fuel cell hybrid with plug-in capabilities. It leverages a high-temperature fuel cell (the world's first, according to VW) in concert with a lithium-ion battery array to power a rear-mounted electric motor. A solar panel on the roof also helps charge the onboard batteries. On battery power alone, the little cruiser has a range of 65 miles with a full charge. When the fuel cell is added into the mix, maximum range increases to 220 miles. VW claims that its high temperature fuel cell (FC-HT) is more production-viable in the long tun than competing fuel cell tech because it's lighter, more geared to everyday use and less costly to produce. That's very encouraging news, to be sure. Now, if only they had figured out a way to allow for roof-mounted surfboards without blocking the solar panel...
[Source: VW]
PRESS RELEASE:
To the Point: The space up! blue
Clean Drive Revolution "Made in Germany"
Volkswagen presents the first car in the world with high-temperature fuel cell
space up! blue covers downtown distances with pure battery drive
- Wolfsburg / Los Angeles, November 2007. Powertrain revolution in California: Volkwagen is presenting the space up! blue concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 14 to 25) as a world exclusive – a compact, self-confident zero emissions van in the style of the legendary Volkswagen Samba Bus. On board: the world's first high temperature fuel cell and an array of twelve lithium-ion batteries. When the electric motor (45 kW / 61 PS) of the space up! blue is driven exclusively by battery, a range of 65 miles is possible – enough to handle nearly all distances in downtown areas. In the scenario of tomorrow's world, the four-seat Volkswagen is advancing to become the ideal vehicle for anyone who wants to drive – completely emissions-free – to work, recreation, school or university or just shopping.
- Energy is "refueled" either via an electrical outlet or by the Volkswagen high-temperature fuel cell. In the latter case, the car's range is extended an additional 155 miles. This makes it possible to drive up to 220 miles on a single "energy charge". Aside from this, the microvan utilizes another energy source: the sun. And indeed with a large solar panel on the roof. It supplies up to 150 Watt of energy that is also fed into the battery.
- With its new high temperature fuel cell (HT-FC) Volkswagen is introducing a system that represents a turning point in research on fuel cells for mass production. That is because, the HTFC offers crucial advantages compared to all other fuel cell systems: considerably lower weight, significantly greater everyday utility, substantially lower price, and therefore clearly the better chances of becoming a reality someday as a mass produced technology. The high temperature fuel cell was developed at a dedicated research center founded by Volkswagen in Germany.
- With its concept car being shown in Los Angeles, Europe's most successful car producer is introducing the third variant of its "New Small Family" within just two months. Like the city specialist, the up!, already introduced at the IAA in Frankfurt, and the space up! presented in Tokyo, the space up! blue is a small space wonder too. Over a length of just 144.9 inches, a height of 61.8 inches and a width of 64.2 inches, it offers the space of a considerably larger vehicle. The clever space concept of the space up! blue – which is 1,090 kilograms "light" despite the fuel cell and batteries – is largely due to the layout of the powertrain. Its emissions-free electric motor operates – as did the engines of the Beetle and the Bulli (Microbus) at one time – in the rear. Also housed in the rear, under the rear seat to be exact, are the lithium-ion batteries. The high temperature fuel cell, on the other hand, is located at the front of the car.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doc_master @ Nov 14th 2007 10:45AM
I was wondering exactly about that surfboard issue...maybe they will introduce transparent boards, who knows...
RobF @ Nov 14th 2007 11:29AM
How about surf boards with a solar array on the bottom.
len simpson @ Nov 14th 2007 11:02AM
the pic reminds me of the GM "cars of the future" display at 1939 world,s fair. they were electric, too
SherbornSean @ Nov 14th 2007 11:05AM
VW obviously put a lot of thought into how to make this vehicle inexpensively. Except for the fuel cell part, you could see this making production in 3 years, which would be a good thing.
The solar panel is a bit silly. Far more effective to put a solar panel on your roof and use it to charge the vehicle.
history @ Nov 14th 2007 11:35AM
Actually VW's California lab had a concept vehicle a couple years ago that converted an old bus into an electric car complete with surfboards on the roof rack that had integrated solar cells to recharge the batteries (the cells were on the surfboards, not the roof).
Hank @ Nov 14th 2007 12:04PM
I kind of like it. It doesn't have the charm of a real VW bus, but it is a good, usable idea that would be closer to VW's true roots than most of their recent endeavors.
Jason @ Nov 14th 2007 12:49PM
oh come on, the surf board issue is a non-issue... the boards would only be on the roof when you're driving. when it's sitting there in the parking lot and you're out catching rides the cells would be totally out in the open to soak up the rays (unless the cells don't charge while the vehicle is off??)
John F. @ Nov 14th 2007 1:40PM
Just give it to us with a small diesel/hybrid powertrain and not too many gizmos.
catchmeinhawaii @ Nov 14th 2007 4:27PM
The last two Up! concepts have been microvans, so I am hopeful that the actual production version will be a van type thing such as this. The solar panels rock since I live in sunny Honolulu and it seems like it would be useful for driver across the southwestern USA. The surfbords can always go inside the van anyway!
macmanic @ Nov 15th 2007 11:14AM
Enough already VW! Quit playing around and get your spit together and produce a new minivan for the masses! Families, outdoor fun hogs, and people with a need for room in a smaller, more efficient vehicle ARE GOING CRAZY waiting for SOMEONE, ANYONE to put one out. Scion's XB had potential but the latest version is a step backward in style and mpg... THERE IS A MARKET!!!!
BChau @ Nov 24th 2007 6:09AM
I hope VW would bring this car to Australia. We too have plenty of sunshine. And with the solar panel at the rooftop, I suppose it would help cool down the interior of the car a bit, so it would use less power for air-conditioning too. Clever.
tdiguy1 @ Nov 30th 2007 11:41AM
I'm not an electrical engineer so, how long would it have to sit in the sun to fully charge the batteries?
BChau @ Dec 1st 2007 12:16AM
In an emergency when you run out of electricity, at least you can wait and let the solar recharge the car till it gives enough power for you to drive it till the next electrical power outlet.
For a normal petrol car, you will have to find alternate arrangement to have your car towed to the next petrol station.