Monday, January 08, 2007
DRDO upgrades eco-friendly Reva car - Daily News & Analysis
DNA - Evolutions - DRDO upgrades eco-friendly Reva car - Daily News & Analysis: "CHIDAMBARAM (TN): Defence scientists have upgraded the battery-run Reva car, which could now be operated using energy-efficient fuel cells, drastically reducing fuel costs.
The eco-friendly car, built by Defence Research and Development's (DRDO) Naval Material Research Laboratory near Mumbai, operates for an additional 40 kms after the vehicle runs out of battery after 80 kms.
'Running it could cost as little as 40 paise a kilometre,' said DRDO chief M Natarajan in his address at a theme session at the ongoing 94th Indian Science Congress at the Annamalai University.
'We put a 1.8 kilowatt phosphoric acid fuel cell to the Reva car in addition to the battery,' he told reporters later.
The hybrid car being tested at the Naval Material Research Laboratory at Ambarnath, 60 km from Mumbai, has been performing quite well, Natarajan said.
The fuel cells can also be used in the power-starved rural areas as a generator to power a small home.
The fuel cell is a 'small silent power plant' that produces very little emissions. The green-and-black prototype at the Ambarnath lab, is a standard Reva car that has been stretched to accommodate the fuel cell rack in its boot.
The car, when switched on, initially draws power from its built-in battery during which methanol and water are converted into hydrogen to power the fuel cell.
'The fuel cell then continuously charges the battery and helps extend the vehicle's range and allows it to be operated in places where electricity is not readily available,' Natarajan said.
The phosphoric acid fuel cell uses hydrogen with a strong content of gases like carbon dioxide. "
The eco-friendly car, built by Defence Research and Development's (DRDO) Naval Material Research Laboratory near Mumbai, operates for an additional 40 kms after the vehicle runs out of battery after 80 kms.
'Running it could cost as little as 40 paise a kilometre,' said DRDO chief M Natarajan in his address at a theme session at the ongoing 94th Indian Science Congress at the Annamalai University.
'We put a 1.8 kilowatt phosphoric acid fuel cell to the Reva car in addition to the battery,' he told reporters later.
The hybrid car being tested at the Naval Material Research Laboratory at Ambarnath, 60 km from Mumbai, has been performing quite well, Natarajan said.
The fuel cells can also be used in the power-starved rural areas as a generator to power a small home.
The fuel cell is a 'small silent power plant' that produces very little emissions. The green-and-black prototype at the Ambarnath lab, is a standard Reva car that has been stretched to accommodate the fuel cell rack in its boot.
The car, when switched on, initially draws power from its built-in battery during which methanol and water are converted into hydrogen to power the fuel cell.
'The fuel cell then continuously charges the battery and helps extend the vehicle's range and allows it to be operated in places where electricity is not readily available,' Natarajan said.
The phosphoric acid fuel cell uses hydrogen with a strong content of gases like carbon dioxide. "
# posted by Jain's on Road Trip @ 6:58 PM 
