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- Space for the family – despite fuel cells on board
- Touran with fuel cells offers space for five persons plus luggage
- Minivan has undergone successful durability testing for four years now
Volkswagen has been researching the fuel cell as a future source of drive power for many years now. One of the test vehicles showing the greatest practical utility is the Touran with a fuel cell drive. It demonstrates integration of a low-temperature fuel cell drive in a conventional production vehicle with minimal impact on interior space.
As a research vehicle, the Touran shows how fully emissions-free mobility is possible by obtaining energy by a fuel cell and a torque-strong electric drive. In the innovative Volkswagen, a 80 kW strong electric motor delivers hefty propulsive force. Its electrical power is supplied by the fuel cell. It obtains energy from the natural reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.
With its powertrain, which runs without noise or vibration, the Touran opens up a new dimension of comfortable car driving in the van market, while still offering practical utility in terms of driving performance. The test vehicle accelerates from a stop to 100 km/h in 14 seconds, and its top speed is 87 mph (140 km/h). The Touran’s battery, enabling dynamic response to the highest performance requirements, is a nickel-metal-hydride battery – with an energy capacity of about 1.9 kWh – instead of a lithium-ion battery, since it was conceptualized a generation earlier than the Tiguan. The battery is “charged” by fuel cell or by recovered braking energy, which can also be converted into propulsive force.
Note:
All data and equipment contained in this press release apply to models offered in the USA. They may differ in other countries. All information is subject to change or correction.
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