The e-Bio Fuel Cell generates electricity through the SOFC (power generator) using bio-ethanol stored in the vehicle. The e-Bio Fuel-Cell utilises hydrogen transformed from fuel via a reformer and atmospheric oxygen, with the subsequent electrochemical reaction producing electricity to power the vehicle.
Unlike conventional systems, e-Bio Fuel-Cell features SOFC as its power source, affording greater power efficiency to give the vehicle cruising ranges similar to petrol-powered cars.
Fuel-cell systems use chemicals that react with oxygen, generating power without releasing harmful byproducts, like CO2. With the bio-ethanol system, CO2 emissions are neutralised from the growing process of sugarcane making up the bio-fuel, allowing it to have a ‘Carbon-Neutral Cycle’, with nearly no CO2 increase whatsoever.
In the future, Nissan says the e-Bio Fuel-Cell will become even more user-friendly as ethanol-blended water is easier and safer to handle than most other fuels. As this will remove limits on creating a totally new infrastructure, it has great potential for market growth.
Running costs are expected to be on par with today’s EVs, ultimately benefitting the public as well as businesses, because the e-Bio Fuel-Cell is suitable for wider customer needs as the short refuelling time and ample power supply can support a range of services such as refrigerated delivery.
