Audi has announced the new H-Tron Quattro concept car which is powered by a hydrogen cell, is eco-friendly and the SUV might probably reach buyers by the end of 2020.
The wait is long, without a doubt, with at least four years to go, but Audi is working on something brand new. Innovative technologies are always the driving force behind any industry and the automobile world got it through Tesla. The company’s success drove multiple vendors to opt for zero emission cars which ran on electric motors and not gasoline. Most diesel cars got replaced with Model S and there might be more affordable e-cars in the next few years with reliable mile range.
The concept SUV H-Tron Quattro from Audi is powered by hydrogen cell and can travel up to 373 miles on a single charge. The car uses a four-wheel drive system and can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just seven seconds. The top speed, however for the safety of the passengers and to increase stability has been limited to 124 miles per hour. During the Detroit Motor Show, the company confirmed that they will start production for the vehicle in 2020 once the technologies are tested and tried in real life conditions.
A brand new technology allows the engineers, to stack multiple hydrogen fuel cells in a row and they are mounted inside a lightweight carbon fiber plastic material. The bigger, 700 bar tanks will be mounted in the rear, while the smaller cells will be in the boot floor. Sharing the weight increases stability of the car while boosting its fuel efficiency offering increased mile range for its users.
Audi confirmed during the show that by opting for the fuel cell stack concept they have managed to make their H-Tron at least 60% more fuel efficient than traditional battery powered vehicles. They have also reduced the quantity of platinum components used in the vehicle. It contributes a lot to reducing the pricing of the SUV and in making it more environmental friendly. A brand new heat pump is also being used to absorb excessive heat and increase the longevity of the components.
Apart from the hydrogen cells, the Audi H-Tron Quattro concept has a 1.8 kWh lithium ion battery. It is used to provide a temporary boost up to 134 bhp for a quick burst. When combined, the batteries weight 60 kilograms, a great feat achieved by Audi.