Audi is showcasing its upcoming fuel cell technology under the hood of the A7 with the debut of the A7 Sportback h-tron quattro concept.
This year is all about fuel cell news at the LA Auto Show. This week we’ve already heard updates from Toyota with its Mirai and the upcoming Honda FCV. Now Audi is showcasing its upcoming fuel cell technology under the hood of the A7 with the debut of the A7 Sportback h-tron quattro concept.
The concept looks nearly identical to the A7, but under the skin there’s fuel cell system that can travel up to 310 miles on a single tank of hydrogen, all without emitting nothing more than a few drops of water. The A7 concept also can operate as a plug-in hybrid.
Related: 2016 Toyota Mirai Fuel-Cell Vehicle Priced at $57,500 or Lease for $499
“The A7 Sportback h‑tron quattro is a genuine Audi – at once sporty and efficient. Conceived as an e‑quattro, its two electric motors drive all four wheels,” explained Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi. “The h‑tron concept car shows that we have also mastered fuel cell technology. We are in a position to launch the production process as soon as the market and infrastructure are ready.”
The A7 Sportback h-tron quattro uses a powerful, sporty electric drive with a fuel cell as its energy source that operates in combination with a hybrid battery and an additional electric motor in the rear. The overall electrical system power of 170 kW is transferred to both the front and the rear wheels. The fuel cell itself comprises over 300 individual cells that together form a stack. The core of each of these individual cells is a polymer membrane. There is a platinum-based catalyst on both sides of the membrane.
If you want to use electric power instead, you can plug the A7 concept in and drive up to 31 miles in electric mode, like the A3 e-tron.
Source: Audi
