Volkswagen has presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show the world premiere of the Golf SportWagen HyMotion – a progressive research vehicle with a fuel cell drive.
As the power source of the future, hydrogen andoxygen are combined in the fuel cell to form pure water. Energy is released in this "cold combustion" process – drive energy for an electric motor that turns with zero emissions. The front wheel drive Golf SportWagen HyMotion accelerates to 62 mph in 10.0 seconds. The hydrogen is stored safely in four high-tech carbon-fibre tanks, which are located in a space-saving way in the underbody. Their fuel capacity enables a driving range of 310 miles. Refilling ofthe fuel tank of the concept car takes just three minutes.
The key drive components of the Golf SportWagen HyMotion were developed by Volkswagen Group Research in Germany. The fuel cell system, which hasa driving power of 100 kW, was conceptualised at the Volkswagen Technology Centre for Electric Traction. In addition, the concept car has a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, which stores the kinetic energy recovered from regenerative braking, assists in the starting phase of the fuel cell and adds a dynamic boost to the maximum acceleration of the Golf SportWagen. The fuel cell andbattery drive an electric motor adapted from the e-Golf.
The mechanical design for this innovative car build is based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB) which was developed by Volkswagen and is used throughout the Group. Thanks to use of MQB, the current Golf hatchback versions and the new Golf SportWagen have advanced to become the world's first vehicle model series that can host all conceivable drive types. Today, the Golf is already offered with petrol engines (TSI), diesel engines (TDI), a natural gasdrive (TGI)1, an electric drive (e-Golf)2 and a plug-in hybrid drive (Golf GTE)3. No other car offers such a variety of drive types.
Volkswagen is showing the Golf SportWagen HyMotion to demonstrate for the first time how a hydrogen fuel cell could be implemented based on the MQB as soon asresearch and development work has been completed and a solution could be developed whose price would be acceptable to new car buyers. Before market launch, a hydrogen infrastructure must first be created. This means not only a broad network of hydrogen fuel stations, but also the production of the hydrogen itself, because hydrogen only makes sense as a source of drive energy if the primary energy used to produce it comes from renewable energy sources.
Unlike many of its competitors, Volkswagen is following the strategy of implementing its alternative drives in high-volume production vehicles. Just as the all-electric e-Golf and the Golf GTE that is equipped with a plug-in hybrid drive are integrated in a production model that has everyday practicality, so future fuel cell drives would also be integrated into production models that have been optimally engineered and are offered at an attractive price. It was with this objective in mind that several research vehicles were built based on the American Passat, in which the same drive components from the Golf SportWagen HyMotion are used. The fleet of Passat HyMotion vehicles is currently being tested on the streets of California.
