Nissan says it is developing a solid oxide fuel-cell (SOFC) system that runs on bio-ethanol electric power, with the intention of using it in a future vehicle.
The system features what the Japanese automaker calls an e-bio fuel-cell with an SOFC power generator. SOFC is a fuel-cell utilising the reaction of multiple fuels, including ethanol and natural gas, with oxygen to produce electricity “with high efficiency”.
The e-bio fuel-cell generates electricity through the power generator using bio-ethanol stored in an onboard tank. The system utilises hydrogen transformed from fuel via a reformer and atmospheric oxygen, with the subsequent electrochemical reaction producing electricity to power the vehicle’s wheels.
Unlike conventional systems, Nissan’s concept features SOFC as its power source, which the brand says “affords greater power efficiency to give the vehicle cruising ranges similar to petrol-powered cars”. In fact, Nissan reckons the range would be “more than 600 km”.
The single biggest advantage of its system, says Nissan, is that a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is not required, since ethanol fuel is generally far more widely available than hydrogen.
Nissan says it has plans to bring the technology to market in fleet vehicles by around 2020.
