Introducing: Volkswagen Golf SportWagen HyMotion with hydrogen fuel cell

The key drive components of the Golf SportWagen HyMotion were developed by Volkswagen Group Research in Germany. The fuel cell system, which has a driving power of 100 kW, was conceptualised at the Volkswagen Technology Centre for Electric Traction. In addition, the concept car has a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, which stores the kinetic energy recovered from regenerative braking, assists in the starting phase of the fuel cell and adds a dynamic boost to the maximum acceleration of the Golf SportWagen. The fuel cell and battery drive an electric motor adapted from the e-Golf.

Before market launch, a hydrogen infrastructure must first be created. This means not only a broad network of hydrogen fuel stations, but also the production of the hydrogen itself, because hydrogen only makes sense as a source of drive energy if the primary energy used to produce it comes from renewable energy sources.

Unlike many of its competitors, Volkswagen is following the strategy of implementing its alternative drives in high-volume production vehicles. Just as the all-electric e-Golf and the Golf GTE that is equipped with a plug-in hybrid drive are integrated in a production model that has everyday practicality, so future fuel cell drives would also be integrated into production models that have been optimally engineered and are offered at an attractive price. It was with this objective in mind that several research vehicles were built based on the American Passat, in which the same drive components from the Golf SportWagen HyMotion are used. The fleet of Passat HyMotion vehicles is currently being tested on the streets of California.

Credits: Oneshift News Team