SEICENTO 'ELETTRA H2 FUEL CELL' AND SEICENTO HYDROGEN

The Panda Hydrogen is a development of two Seicento Fuel Cell prototypes that were a pilot project on which experiments were conducted prior to applying the hydrogen system to the Panda.

It all began in 2001 with the advent of the Seicento 'Elettra H2 Fuel Cell'. The prototype proved to be just the first in a long line of technological products focusing on Fuel Cell technology. It used hydrogen as a fuel supplying a stack capable of producing electrical energy at 48 V with a maximum power of 7 kW. The Fuel Cell is part of a hybrid system incorporating a 30 kW electric traction engine. The car's performance standards, perfectly acceptable for the needs of driving around town centres, are similar to those of the Seicento Elettra but its range is 140 km and thus much higher than its electrical counterpart.

A hydrogen-driven Seicento Fuel Cell does not produce polluting emissions and does not generate carbon dioxide (CO2). It is the ideal form of traction for driving around town centres and contributes significantly to reducing greenhouse gases that are mainly made up of CO2. When calculating CO2 emissions, we must also consider the energy required to produce the hydrogen because a true reduction in emissions can be obtained only if the gas is produced from renewable resources.

And so to the Seicento Hydrogen presented this year: compared to the previous prototype, the new experimental car boasts an increase in continuous stack power (from 7 kW to 20 kW) and a reduction in the weight of the Metal Hydride battery pack (from 270 kg to 20 kg), with a significant increase in top speed, from 100 km/h to 130 km/h.

The Seicento Hydrogen also adopts innovative features such as a special dynamic compressor developed by the Fiat Research Centre that allows high response dynamics, low noise levels and high efficiency. Due to the miniaturisation of components and their integration, the car weighs 70 kg less than the Seicento Fuel Cell and can accommodate up to four people, while its range is increased from 100 km to more than 220 km.

In the medium-long term, Fuel Cell technology seems to be the solution to environmental problems relating to the motor car but we must remember that the road ahead is long and strewn with technical and financial hurdles. Fiat Auto is nevertheless investing in this technology and is involved in international joint ventures to develop and evaluate the different technical solutions and problems associated with automotive applications.