Volkswagen’s American operations will be testing sixteen Shanghai Volkswagen Passat Lingyu fuel cell vehicles as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership. The Volkswagen Passat Lingyu was developed by a venture between two automobile companies VW and Shanghai Auto and a group of scientists from Tongji University.
VW head researcher Dr. Jurgen Leohold
The Passat Lingyu prototype reflects Volkswagen Group's long standing commitment to develop new solutions for a clean future
The car which was originally developed during the 2008 Beijing Olympics was used a fleet vehicles which clocking around 50,000 miles. The Passat- Lingyu can top the speed of about 90 mph, with a range of 146 miles.
VW Passat Lingyu Fuel Cell Vehicle Image Gallery
The only by-product emerging out of the tailpipe would be oxygen and water. Rumors suggest that if the testing goes on fine in California, VW would start mass producing the vehicle next year in China and it will also serve in the U.S. as a fleet model.
Press Release
| Volkswagen Group of America Announces U.S. Arrival of 16 Passat Lingyu Fuel Cell Vehicles- Zero Emissions Vehicles to Participate in Fuel Cell Demonstrations in Sacramento -
Volkswagen Group of America announced today that 16 Passat Lingyu vehicles will participate in fleet demonstrations at the California Fuel Cell Partnership in Sacramento, Calif. These prototype vehicles were developed in China and debuted at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Passat Lingyu fuel cell vehicles are being added to the existing fleet of eight Volkswagen fuel cell vehicles also at the California Fuel Cell Partnership. In total, these 24 vehicles create the largest fleet of fuel cell cars from a single manufacturer at one location anywhere in the world. "The Passat Lingyu prototype reflects Volkswagen Group's long standing commitment to develop new solutions for a clean future," said Professor Dr. Jurgen Leohold, Head of Volkswagen Group Research. Volkswagen Group worked with scientists at Tongji University to create these fuel cell vehicles that are based on one of China's best-selling Volkswagen platforms. The Passat Lingyu is capable of traveling at highway speeds up to 90 mph and as far as 146 miles on a single tank of fuel. The only byproduct released from the tailpipe is water and oxygen. "These vehicles logged nearly 50,000 miles in Beijing - with zero harmful emissions. We can think of no better place to next exhibit this environmentally-friendly technology than at the California Fuel Cell Partnership," said John Tillman, program manager for Volkswagen's U.S. Advanced Powertrain Research Program. In addition to working with the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the company also operates a number of university research projects in the state. In a quest toward sustainable mobility, Volkswagen Group is exploring a number of new technologies to achieve greater fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions. The company's commitment to the environment also covers the entire lifespan of a car, from the earliest stages of the manufacturing process to the vehicle's final trip to the recycling yard. "We will not achieve sustainability alone," said Anna Schneider, director of government-industry relations for Volkswagen Group of America. "We need global solutions to global problems and these international and domestic partnerships are absolutely critical to advancing our environmental objectives." |
