VOLVO: C30 ELECTRIC RANGE EXTENDED

Volvo Cars is embarking on the development of a Volvo C30 Electric Range Extender variant of its electric vehicle, with additional range provided by a fuel cell. Volvo is working with PowerCell Sweden AB, a joint venture between AB Volvo and Statoil ASA in developing the fuel cell-based range extender. The concept integrates a fuel cell with an on-board reformer that was originally developed by Oel Waerme Institut in Aachen, Germany.

Using special catalysts operating at elevated temperatures, regular gasoline is converted into a hydrogen reformate to fuel the PowerCell fuel cell. The Volvo C30 Electric Range Extender can be filled up any gasoline station, and thus is not dependent on hydrogen stations. The reformer technology can be adapted for renewable fuels.


Erik Pedrosa
Green Cars