With the traditional SUV well and truly toasted, automakers are going back to the drawing board to tempt consumers back into their AWD profitmobiles. Sales numbers indicate that two-mode hybrid SUVs do not return sufficient mileage to justify their high prices. Resurrecting the segment will require even more sophisticated technology. At least that's what Nissan reckons. The automaker's displaying its vision for THE SUV OF THE FUTURE! Yes, it's a fuel-cell-powered version of its X-Trail Ute. The Evening Standard reports that Nissan unveiled its alt power concept at London's Imperial College. The FCV X-Trail represents the pinnacle of Nissan's 12-year fuel cell development program. The fuel cell is 40 percent smaller than afore, motorvating the FCV X-Trail up to 300 miles on a tank of hydrogen. The hydrogen-battery electric drive is good for up to 93 mph in EV-like silence.Of course, the research model cost millions of dollars to develop and assemble. According to Nissan spokesfolks, "the cost of the system is still too high for mass production." Nissan engineers promise to sort all that shit out [paraphrasing] by 2015. Unless of course battery development outstrips hydrogen-based technology. Which it probably will.
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No comments? None? WTH happened to hydrogen hype? I remember when TTAC had to take the time to show why the “hydrogen economy” was a non-starter.
If you think of all the BILLIONS invested by automakers into this technology… GM Haywire– I mean, Hy-wire anyone? Thought not.
Sorry RF, hydrogen just isn’t costing we taxpayers and food eaters what ethanol is and seems well understood to make no sense in these parts.
I am in the Hydrogen is nothing other than a different form of battery camp.
However, I have a comment about the car:
Please put the veil back on.
Nissan has had fuel cell X-Trails since at least 2005. This is just another evolutionary step.
Thankfully, there isn’t a hydrogen lobby for Congress to subsidize.