Ford to attempt speed record for fuel-cell powered car
While the SCC Ultimate Aero tries to break the top speed record of the Bugatti Veyron, Ford will attempt the world land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered vehicle at Bonneville with its Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999.
Ford will be teaming up with Ohio State University, Ballard and Roush to build and engineer the hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 was designed by Ford engineers and put together by Roush. Ohio State students will be providing a 770 horsepower electric motor, while Ballard is supplying the hydrogen fuel cells.
Rick Byrnes, a veteran Bonneville racer, will pilot the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 car on its record attempt.
Head over to AutoBlogGreen for live images of the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999.
Press Release:
FORD FUSION HYDROGEN 999 RACER TO ATTEMPT SPEED RECORD FOR FUEL CELL-POWERED VEHICLE
* Ford to attempt land speed record for production-based fuel cell powered vehicle at Bonneville with the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999.
* Ford, Ohio State University, Ballard and Roush are collaborating to build and engineer the hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains.
* Ohio State University will attempt to set the land speed record for unlimited class fuel cell powered vehicle with the Buckeye Bullet 2.
DEARBORN, Mich., July 10 ““ Ford Motor Company will take its 10 years of hydrogen research expertise to the Bonneville Salt Flats in August in an attempt to set the world land speed record in a hydrogen fuel cell powered Ford Fusion.
The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 fuel cell car ““ a collaboratively engineered racer with Ballard, Roush and Ohio State University ““ is one of two vehicles Ford’s fuel cell research team is helping prepare to set world land speed records. Ford researchers also are working with Ohio State University student engineers on its Buckeye Bullet 2, a fuel cell-powered racer that will compete for a similar world record in the unlimited class category.
“Racing is part of Ford Motor Company’s DNA so it seemed only natural for us to build a fuel cell race car that runs on hydrogen, a fuel that could someday play a key role in meeting the energy needs of the transportation sector,” said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering for Ford Motor Company. “Our goal in attempting this record is to further expand our technological horizons with fuel cell powered vehicles. The collaboration with Ohio State University also affords us an opportunity to work closely with a prestigious university, which provides out-of-the-box thinking from student engineers and helps us recruit talented young people to work at Ford Motor Company.”
The land speed record attempt will take place during Bonneville Speed Week from Aug. 10-17. The attempt will be sanctioned by the Southern California Timing Association®.
The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 land speed record vehicle was designed by Ford engineers and fabricated and built by Roush in Allen Park, Michigan. Ohio State students are providing the design of the 770 hp electric motor, while Ballard is supplying the hydrogen fuel cells. Ford retiree Rick Byrnes, a veteran Bonneville racer, will pilot the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 car on its record attempt.
Ohio State students have designed their unlimited class vehicle, dubbed Buckeye Bullet 2, from the ground up. Ballard donated the hydrogen fuel cells for Ohio State’s car, Roush its engineering services and Ford has provided overall project coordination and expertise in fuel cell drivetrains.
In 2004, Ohio State students set the unlimited land speed record for an electric vehicle by running 315 mph in the first Buckeye Bullet, dubbed BB1.
Source: AutoBlogGreen
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