A hydrogen-powered car has set a new world record – running on the equivalent of more than 5,000 km per litre of petrol.
The Pac II car, a joint project between ETH Zurich with partners from academic institutions and industry, came first at the Shell Eco-Marathon in Ladoux, France, completing one circuit of the 25km track using just one gram of hydrogen – the equivalent of around 5,385 kilometres per litre of petrol.
However, despite its success, the car is not due to be raced again. Instead ETH says its main objectives now are the publication of articles and reports explaining the technical details of the system.
Project director, Lino Guzzella, said: The Pac Car I and II have probed the actual fuel economy limits of road vehicles. They are an excellent breadboard to integrate and test the latest developments in materials, aerodynamics, structures and systems and many other disciplines into one system. I am convinced that some of the ideas that have been generated in this project will eventually show up on the road and, following our main mission, contribute to saving fuel and reducing harmful pollutants of passenger cars.
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