Great read and concept. A real bench mark for the future.



Volkswagen's 'space up!' concept has come to LA, boasting an electric motor drive set-up that is replenished from domestic electricity supply by on-board systems comprising a solar panel and a fuel cell.

Fresh from the Tokyo Motor Show (more here), the 'space up!' has been re-cast by Volkswagen in a 'zero emissions' configuration that will likely gain widespread applause from the environmental lobby.

Unlike the Honda FCX Clarity (more here), the 'space up! blue' -- 'blue' curiously signifying the concept's 'green' status -- approaches the whole carbon-neutral motoring challenge from a different direction. Whilst the Honda is electrically driven also, it relies entirely on an on-board fuel cell which converts hydrogen fuel to electrical energy to replenish the battery that supplies the motor.

The Volkswagen's twelve lithium-ion batteries can be directly recharged from an AC-mains outlet at home and the fuel cell in the vehicle is there to supplement the domestic power source. In addition, the 'space up!' is equipped with a solar panel on the roof of the vehicle, which also contributes electrical charge back to the battery.

On battery power alone, the 'space up!' will cover a range of 105km and will travel a further 250km with replenishment from the fuel cell.

The fuel cell is described by Volkswagen as a 'high temperature fuel cell' (HT-FC) which is lower in weight and costs less to produce. It's located at the front of the vehicle. The batteries, however, are situated under the rear seat and the electric motor is located behind the rear axle line.

Developing 45kW of power and 120Nm of torque, the electric motor is a long way short of the performance available in the Honda FCX Clarity, but the 'space up! blue' is fundamentally a city car with some van trappings and Volkswagen has configured the concept for very clean running and high efficiency.

Volkswagen sees the migration from internal combustion engines to electric engines beginning in cities first and spreading subsequently to rural areas, but the infrastructure needs to be in place first, with vehicle owners able to recharge the vehicle when parked -- anywhere. That means electrical recharging outlets in public and private parking spaces.

The fuel cell system is there to extend the vehicle's range for longer trips when the battery charge alone is insufficient. 'Traditional' fuel cells work only in a relatively small temperature range and need complex cooling systems to stay within that range. Volkswagen's HT-FC does not require that level of complexity, which reduces cost and weight. The company claims that the HT-FC will work within a temperature range of up to 160 degrees Celsius.

So the 'space up! blue' is a look into the more distant future, while the FCX Clarity is more of a stepping stone.