20 Jul 07
Ford is testing HySeries Drive in a version of its Edge SUV, a rival to the BMW X5 and Lexus RX, but the car it's in is incidental. This technology could be employed in any vehicle. You just need space under the floor for the fuel cell and batteries, so a car with a loftier stance makes life a little easier.
The handy thing about the fuel cells and batteries in the current HySeries Drive format is that they're not awkward and lumpy like the traditional engine/gearbox interface. Instead they're narrow and rectangular, which is a dream come true for the designers, because they can put the heaviest bits at the bottom of the vehicle to keep the centre of gravity low.
It also makes sense to have the main weight - battery, fuel cell and hydrogen tank in the middle of the car, because they power a pair of 65kW electric motors mounted over each axle. As there's only a half shaft between the transaxle and each hub, friction losses are minimal and total power is the equivalent to 250bhp, so you won't feel too embarrassed at the traffic lights.
Turn the key and you're greeted with... silence. The only thing that indicates the engine is ready to go is the leaping needle on the power meter that sits where a rev counter normally would. Put your foot on the accelerator and the power is instant. Electric engines deliver all their torque at once so there's no waiting for the revs to rise, and no surge of power.
