Kia Hits Paris with the Clean and Green Sportage FCEV Concept

Although hydrogen-power is expected to be the next step forward in zero-emissions vehicles, there are many problems

To develop the fuel-cell Sportage, Kia worked in collaboration with world-renowned fuel cell experts UTC Fuel Cells of Hartford, Connecticut and Enovas Systems of Torrance, California. (Photo: Kia Canada)

that pure electric/fuel cell vehicles face. One of the roadblocks was creating enough power and torque to move the SUV along at a reasonable rate of speed. Another, equally important, was giving the vehicle enough range to make it useful for daily driving. What's more, cold-weather energy storage posed critical problems if prospective future owners could expect to operate it in sub-zero temperatures.

In a smart move, Kia decided to work in collaboration with world-renowned fuel cell experts UTC Fuel Cells of Hartford, Connecticut and Enovas Systems of Torrance, California for drivetrain solutions, the same group that helped Kia's parent automaker Hyundai's Santa Fe FCEV score best-in-class for efficiency and noise at the 2001 Michelin Challenge Bibendum. Together, the two firms adapted a zero-emissions drivetrain which could be fitted to the Sportage's

A major key in developing a functional hydrogen-powered vehicle is giving it enough range to make it useful for daily driving. (Photo: Kia Canada)

conventional chassis. In place of the conventional 2.0-liter I-4 or 2.7-liter V6 gasoline engines is a ZEV powerplant that's capable of producing 80 kW (107 horsepower) of output which can propel the Sportage to 150 km/h (93 mph).

Aside from the powerful motor, Kia has also equipped the Sportage FCEV with a 152-liter hydrogen storage tank that's mounted low on the chassis, ahead of the rear axles, allowing for a maximum range of 330 km (205 miles). The cylindrical fuel tank's positioning actually lowers the Sportage's center of gravity, and unlike other fuel cell vehicles, does not intrude on interior space. A new lithium ion polymer battery which has undergone extensive testing provides 152 volts of charge, allowing the Sportage to operate in harsher climates.