 |
2006 Morgan LIFECar Concept news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
A wholly British partnership today unveiled plans to develop the world's first environmentally clean sports car, powered by a fuel cell which converts hydrogen into electricity. The partnership is made up of legendary British sports car manufacturer, the Morgan Motor Company, QinetiQ, Cranfield and Oxford Úniversities, BOC and OSCar.
The new vehicle, known as LIFECar, will be ultra quiet and its exhaust systems will produce only water vapour. It promises a clean vehicle combined wîth sound motoring performance and stylish good looks.
Part-funded by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), LIFECar is a two and half-year long project which marks a step change in vehicle power technology, producing a combination of performance, range and fuel economy that will be essential to the motoring world of the future.
LIFECar will be based on the Morgan Aero Eight, and is powered by a QinetiQ-made fuel cell, which converts hydrogen – and oxygen taken from the air around it – into electrical energy. It will be clean, quiet and economic, and the only waste product from the car will be water. The car's power system will be incredibly efficient, producing significant improvements over current fuel cell prototype vehicles, wîth the fuel cell powering four separate electric motors, one at each drive wheel.
The key to delivering this step change in energy efficiency lies in a combination of factors, including weight reduction and a different design approach. This approach exploits opportunities across the vehicle to reduce energy losses and requirements.
Regenerative braking and surplus energy will be used to charge ultra-capacitors, which will release their energy when the car is accelerating. This architecture will allow the car to have a much smaller fuel cell than is conventionally regarded as necessary: it will only be as large as is required to provide cruising speed, approximately 24 kW, as opposed to around 85kW proposed by most competitor systems.
Speaking at this year's Society of Motor Manufacturers International Business Group, where the plans were unveiled, Charles Morgan, corporate strategy director of the Morgan Motor Company and LIFECar project director, said: 'This is a project which captures the imagination. LIFECar promises to combine advanced technology while retaining the best in traditional ways of designing and building cars. A sports car that is beautiful, brilliant to drive but pollution free must be a goal worth striving for.'
Costing a total of £1.9m, wîth a mix of and DTI funding, the two and half year project will be broken down into the following areas of responsibility:
BOC Developing the hydrogen refuelling plant
Cranfield Úniversity Systems simulation, on-board computing and control of the fuel-cell hybrid powertrain. Also responsible for analysis of the integrated design process used.
Vehicle controller and control algorithm, together wîth modelling software
Morgan Motor Company Providing the car platform and assembling the final concept car
Oxford Úniversity Úndertaking the design and control (note C) of the electric motors
OSCar Responsible for overall system design and architecture
QinetiQ Developing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)
Technical Background
The car's fuel cell system operates by electrochemically combining on-board hydrogen wîth oxygen taken from the air outside. Although in most respects fuel cells are more like engines than batteries, to the extent that they generate energy from fuel in a tank rather than store energy, like batteries, they use electrodes (solid electrical conductors) wîth an electrolyte (an electrically conductive medium). When the hydrogen molecules come into contact wîth the negative electrodes, the molecules split into protons and electrons. The protons are then carried across the proton exchange membrane to the positive electrode of the fuel cell whilst the electrons travel around the external circuit as electricity. The molecules of the hydrogen and oxygen are combined chemically, wîth water as the only waste product. The only emission from the QinetiQ fuel cell will be water vapour. The electric power generated by the fuel cells powers the electric motors and turns the wheels of the vehicle.
LIFECar Consortium - Quotations
Stephen Evans, Professor of Life Cycle Engineering, Cranfield Úniversity
'Cranfield Úniversity is developing computer simulation models for the main vehicle components; such as the fuel cell, the hydrogen storage system and the electrical machine. These models will allow Úniversity engineers to predict the performance of the vehicle and its environmental impact long before any physical components have been manufactured and tested. These models will then be used to develop the sophisticated control software and electronics, which are necessary to integrate and manage the vehicle's on-board hydrogen and electrical power systems. Cranfield Úniversity will also be acting as ‘project observer' to ensure that the design techniques used are made known to others.'
Dave Wardle, European Manager of Hydrogen Energy for BOC
'The future of the hydrogen economy, and hydrogen-powered motoring in particular, is central to both our society and our company. This project has our total support, since if offers a real chance of bringing forward a time in which hydrogen fuel is a realistic option for motorists.'
Dr Malcolm McCulloch of Oxford Úniversity
'It is obvious that in our transition to a sustainable society we will have to adopt electric power for cars, and they will have to be very efficient ones at that. To do this we will need to push the envelope in the design of electric motors and their control gear, which will be Oxford's contribution to LIFECar.'
Hugo Spowers of OSCar Automotive
'This project is the first fruit of a great deal of work on the whole system design of fuel cell powered vehicles. We hope to be able to demonstrate that the perceived barriers to the adoption of hydrogen-fuelled motoring, the high costs of fuel cells and hydrogen storage are, if not bogus, much less of a problem than is conventionally thought.'
Ian Whiting of QinetiQ
'LIFECar is about catching the first big wave in the energy revolution, which is set to transform the motoring in the same way that the computer was transformed by the personal computer decades ago.'Source - Morgan Motor Company
The new vehicle, known as LIFECar, will be ultra quiet and its exhaust systems will produce only water vapour. It promises a clean vehicle combined wîth sound motoring performance and stylish good looks.
Part-funded by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), LIFECar is a two and half-year long project which marks a step change in vehicle power technology, producing a combination of performance, range and fuel economy that will be essential to the motoring world of the future.
LIFECar will be based on the Morgan Aero Eight, and is powered by a QinetiQ-made fuel cell, which converts hydrogen – and oxygen taken from the air around it – into electrical energy. It will be clean, quiet and economic, and the only waste product from the car will be water. The car's power system will be incredibly efficient, producing significant improvements over current fuel cell prototype vehicles, wîth the fuel cell powering four separate electric motors, one at each drive wheel.
The key to delivering this step change in energy efficiency lies in a combination of factors, including weight reduction and a different design approach. This approach exploits opportunities across the vehicle to reduce energy losses and requirements.
Regenerative braking and surplus energy will be used to charge ultra-capacitors, which will release their energy when the car is accelerating. This architecture will allow the car to have a much smaller fuel cell than is conventionally regarded as necessary: it will only be as large as is required to provide cruising speed, approximately 24 kW, as opposed to around 85kW proposed by most competitor systems.
Speaking at this year's Society of Motor Manufacturers International Business Group, where the plans were unveiled, Charles Morgan, corporate strategy director of the Morgan Motor Company and LIFECar project director, said: 'This is a project which captures the imagination. LIFECar promises to combine advanced technology while retaining the best in traditional ways of designing and building cars. A sports car that is beautiful, brilliant to drive but pollution free must be a goal worth striving for.'
Costing a total of £1.9m, wîth a mix of and DTI funding, the two and half year project will be broken down into the following areas of responsibility:
BOC Developing the hydrogen refuelling plant
Cranfield Úniversity Systems simulation, on-board computing and control of the fuel-cell hybrid powertrain. Also responsible for analysis of the integrated design process used.
Vehicle controller and control algorithm, together wîth modelling software
Morgan Motor Company Providing the car platform and assembling the final concept car
Oxford Úniversity Úndertaking the design and control (note C) of the electric motors
OSCar Responsible for overall system design and architecture
QinetiQ Developing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)
Technical Background
The car's fuel cell system operates by electrochemically combining on-board hydrogen wîth oxygen taken from the air outside. Although in most respects fuel cells are more like engines than batteries, to the extent that they generate energy from fuel in a tank rather than store energy, like batteries, they use electrodes (solid electrical conductors) wîth an electrolyte (an electrically conductive medium). When the hydrogen molecules come into contact wîth the negative electrodes, the molecules split into protons and electrons. The protons are then carried across the proton exchange membrane to the positive electrode of the fuel cell whilst the electrons travel around the external circuit as electricity. The molecules of the hydrogen and oxygen are combined chemically, wîth water as the only waste product. The only emission from the QinetiQ fuel cell will be water vapour. The electric power generated by the fuel cells powers the electric motors and turns the wheels of the vehicle.
LIFECar Consortium - Quotations
Stephen Evans, Professor of Life Cycle Engineering, Cranfield Úniversity
'Cranfield Úniversity is developing computer simulation models for the main vehicle components; such as the fuel cell, the hydrogen storage system and the electrical machine. These models will allow Úniversity engineers to predict the performance of the vehicle and its environmental impact long before any physical components have been manufactured and tested. These models will then be used to develop the sophisticated control software and electronics, which are necessary to integrate and manage the vehicle's on-board hydrogen and electrical power systems. Cranfield Úniversity will also be acting as ‘project observer' to ensure that the design techniques used are made known to others.'
Dave Wardle, European Manager of Hydrogen Energy for BOC
'The future of the hydrogen economy, and hydrogen-powered motoring in particular, is central to both our society and our company. This project has our total support, since if offers a real chance of bringing forward a time in which hydrogen fuel is a realistic option for motorists.'
Dr Malcolm McCulloch of Oxford Úniversity
'It is obvious that in our transition to a sustainable society we will have to adopt electric power for cars, and they will have to be very efficient ones at that. To do this we will need to push the envelope in the design of electric motors and their control gear, which will be Oxford's contribution to LIFECar.'
Hugo Spowers of OSCar Automotive
'This project is the first fruit of a great deal of work on the whole system design of fuel cell powered vehicles. We hope to be able to demonstrate that the perceived barriers to the adoption of hydrogen-fuelled motoring, the high costs of fuel cells and hydrogen storage are, if not bogus, much less of a problem than is conventionally thought.'
Ian Whiting of QinetiQ
'LIFECar is about catching the first big wave in the energy revolution, which is set to transform the motoring in the same way that the computer was transformed by the personal computer decades ago.'Source - Morgan Motor Company
| Porsche Debuts Plug-In Panamera At Auto Shanghai | |
 | Today Porsche is celebrating the world premiere of the 2014 Panamera at Auto Shanghai, the Asian market's leading auto show. The centerpiece of the show for Porsche is the appearance of the new Panamera S E-Hybrid, the first plug-in hybrid offering from the German automaker. Also making their debut are two luxurious Executive versions for the Panamera S and Panamera 4S, which feature an extended wheelbase and a completely new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. With this launch, the Panamera line-up...[Read more...] |
| VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS BEST HIGHWAY FUEL EFFICIENCY, WITH SEVEN MODELS THAT ACHIEVE MORE THAN 40 MPG | |
 | • New Jetta Hybrid earns EPA fuel economy rating of up to 48 mpg; the first compact hybrid available with a turbocharged engine Herndon, VA - With EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 48 mpg on the highway, 42 mpg in the city, and a combined rating of 45 mpg, the Jetta Hybrid becomes the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the Volkswagen lineup and the seventh model capable of more than 40 mpg on the highway. With sales of the Jetta Hybrid beginning later this month, Volkswagen wil...[Read more...] |
| LA AUTO SHOW GREEN AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY RIDE & DRIVE TO PREVIEW LATEST CAR INNOVATIONS AND FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES | |
 | Open Exclusively to Media Attending the Second LA Auto Show Press Day Nov. 29 The Los Angeles Auto Show announced today that its media-only Ride & Drive will expand this year to present not only fuel-efficient vehicles, but also vehicles featuring the most advanced in-car technologies. Approximately 25 vehicles from 12 manufacturers will be featured in the new Green andAdvanced Technology Ride & Drive representing the leading edge of automotive innovation today. The event represents a ...[Read more...] |
| Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid wins EBUS Award | |
 | • Award for the advanced hybrid technology from Mercedes-Benz • Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid impresses with synergies from the passenger car segment • Judges praise the 'seriousness' of development efforts In the fuel cell bus category, the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid won the EBUS Award, the environmental award for public local transport. Roman Biondi, brand spokesman for Mercedes-Benz buses and EvoBus, and Ulrich Piotrowski, the Market Launch Manager for Mercedes-Benz hybrid and electric buses, a...[Read more...] |
| Ford Begins Taking Orders for C-MAX Hybrid – America's Most Affordable, Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Utility Vehicle | |
 | Ford dealers are starting to place orders for America's most affordable and fuel-efficient hybrid utility vehicle – the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid – with innovative technologies such as a hands-free liftgate, spaciousness for five passengers and cargo as well as the fun-to-drive character shared with well-handling cars including Ford Focus. The C-MAX is a compact hybrid utility vehicle and the company's first dedicated line of hybrids. The 2013 C-MAX Hybrid will be available this fall with a base...[Read more...] |
 2006
Morgan
models |
| Morgan 4 Seater |
| Morgan 4/4 70th Anniversary |
| Morgan Aero 8 |
| Morgan Aeromax |
| Similar Vehicles | |
 | 2008 Morgan LifeCar Concept |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Alfa Romeo | Allard |
| Austin-Healey | Bristol |
| Citroen | Fiat |
| Lancia | MG |
| Opel | Peugeot |
| Renault | Seat |
| Skoda | Triumph |
| Vauxhall | |
| Morgan: 2001-2010 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Morgan |
| Manufacturer Website |
| 4/4 Aero 8 F-Series Plus 4 Plus 8 |
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
