Kia Motors Corp. (Seoul, Korea) reported that its fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) program has unveiled its new Kia Sportage FCEV at the Mondial de L’Automobile in Paris. The new FCEV boasts a higher output 80 kW fuel cell and a new lithium-ion polymer 152 V battery, which gives the Sportage higher performance, an extended driving range and cold-weather starting capability to operate in sub-zero temperatures.
The Sportage FCEV’s power plant is located in the normal engine bay and boasts an additional 5 kW of power (compared to earlier research vehicles) to produce a peak output of 80 kW and propel the vehicle to a top speed of 150 km/h. With a 152 L hydrogen storage tank located low, ahead of the rear wheels, the latest Kia research vehicle has a range of 300 km. The Sportage FCEV is equipped with hydrogen-powered fuel cells from UTC Fuel Cells (Hartford, CT) and a next-generation, hybrid-electric drive train, motor and control unit from Enova Systems (Torrance, CA).
