By DPA
Malvern (Britain) : The British sports car manufacturer Morgan is to unveil a zero-emission hydrogen car powered by a fuel cell at the Geneva Motor Show.
The LIFECar, based on an initial concept by a specialist company investigating new ideas in environmentally sound transport solutions, comes in a retro-design of the original Morgan two-seater sports car.
Hydrogen is converted to electricity using a four-stack hydrogen PEM fuel cell. The electricity is directed to four electric generators, each connected directly to the driving wheels, according to the manufacturer.
The vehicle has been engineered to deliver energy consumption equivalent to 1.8 litres per 100 km on petrol with a top speed potential of 137 km an hour.
Lightest materials that are also attractive from an environmental and an aesthetic point of view such as aluminium, wood and leather were used, according to the carmaker.
In a related development, Bentley Motors has also announced its plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions of its vehicles and to improve fuel economy.
“We will set a benchmark in our segment of the industry by making every engine capable of running on renewable fuels,” Bentley’s CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen said.
Fuel efficiency will be improved by up to 40 percent with technological changes such as weight reduction, improved transmissions and drivelines, the company said.
The plans are to reduce carbon dioxide emissions of all new models by 15 percent to under 120 gm per km by the year 2012.
“We are convinced that renewable fuels, in particular second-generation bio-fuels, have strong potential,” Paefgen said pointing out that on a well-to-wheel basis, such fuels could deliver net CO2 reductions of up to 90 percent.
According to European Union draft legislation, all carmakers are required to cut C02 emissions below 120 gm per km from the year 2012.