BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY, BIRMINGHAM, UK. Researchers have just finished developing the concept and design for the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell powered mass transport vehicle. It is set to be showcased at this year’s Auto Expo Motor Show. Although hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles are nothing new, most that are being made are not cost-efficient enough for mass production.

This project is being aimed for public transportation purposes in India where they are currently using auto-rickshaw vehicle or more popularly known as the Tuk Tuk utility vehicle. The current Tuk Tuk is one of the main contributors to the increasing carbon emission problems in India and to the world.

The new hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle that is aimed to replace the Tuk Tuk has an electric motor, a complex control system, consists of a hydrogen fuel cell and most importantly, produces zero exhaust emissions. It fuels the systems safely by storing the hydrogen in a cluster of low pressure metal hydride cylinders.

With the use of solar power, a thermal compressor gets the hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Once the process is complete, the hydrogen storage cylinders may be used to power up computers, lightings, mobile phones and even electric vehicles.

The project was made possible through the partnership between Birmingham City University’s Parmjit Chima, Head of the School of Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Systems, UK motorsport entrepreneur and manufacturer Spencer Ashley and the DYPDC centre for automotive research in Pune. The project has been in development since last summer and is being aimed to bring at least 1 million hydrogen-fuelled vehicles on the road by 2020.

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