Hydrogen-Powered Lifecar Set to be Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03. 3.08
Cars & Transportation

lifecar
Image courtesy of Morgan Motor Company

Another day, another sleek new hydrogen-fueled concept car unveiled: this one, the Lifecar, is a £1.9m joint project between the British government and Morgan Motor Company - we first reported on it here - that promises to be the ultimate "green" sports car. It will be officially rolled out at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, which will be held from March 6 - 16.

lifecar-jj-004.jpg

Inspired by the design of the Morgan Aero-8 roadster, the Lifecar boasts a top speed of nearly 100 mph and a maximum range of 250 miles (400 km); according to Morgan boss Matthew Parkin, the futuristic car should be able to do 0-60 mph in 7 seconds. It comes equipped with the latest fuel cell technology from UK firm Qinetiq - the lightweight cells produce 22 kW, about one fifth of the amount of power of a conventional combustion engine.

Its advanced regenerative braking system, which helps restore roughly 50% of its kinetic energy, powers a set of ultra-capacitors aligned down the center of the car. To maximize its efficiency, the car has an aluminum chassis and wooden interior - the goal is to get the Lifecar's weight to 700 kg. On the down side, it lacks many of the features commonly found in most luxury, let alone middle-of-the-road, cars, such as central locking, a stereo system or airbags.

The Lifecar, still in its concept stage, may yet hit the assembly line in the near future; Morgan's Parkin didn't rule out going into production, though he noted that he would first need to gauge the reaction at the Geneva Motor Show.

Via ::BBC News: Green sports car set for launch (news website)

See also: ::Morgan to Develop Fuel Cell Sports Car, ::c,mm,n: The Open-Source Hydrogen Car

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Comments (5)

My understanding is that hydrogen tanks are under extreme pressure. With this car has the tank in the rear so the name "Lifecar" seems appropriate because if you get rear ended, there goes your llife.

jump to top Char says:

....ultimate "green" sports car....
Green maybe, ultimate sport car....NOT. 0-60 in 7 seconds doesn't really stand up does it. And at 100 mph the only thing they'll see on the Autobahn is Oma's Porsche Cayenne tail lights.

jump to top sdogood says:

Depends what your interpretation of "utimate" is!

jump to top MY says:

Good idea, but I'm not impressed. I'd like to see how they develop it though.

jump to top Jikki says:

As everbody of any intelligence knows the hydrogen tanks are impervious to any impact, fear mongering from the likes of char is apparently some sort of mainstream car/oil industry response intended to slow progress, it's interesting how comments like his are always the first to show up whenever theres a new and promising alternative fuel vehicle reported, it's almost like they are monitoring any news outlets. I think its a wonderful car and I'd buy one today, nothing could be worse than paying $4.00 a gallon for rotten old gas.

jump to top woodenbee says:

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