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Taking Fuel-Cell Technology Further

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

DaimlerChrysler unveiled a fuel-cell vehicle Wednesday that is roomier, is more powerful and has greater range than previous prototypes, pushing forward its plans to bring such vehicles to market in five years.

DaimlerChrysler, which claims to be leading the race to replace the internal-combustion engine, said the introduction marks the first showing of a drivable zero-emission fuel-cell vehicle in the U.S.

The announcement in Washington was intended to raise public awareness of the fledgling fuel-cell technology as well as to influence federal legislators and regulators who oversee environmental policies.

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The vehicle, known as Necar 4, for fourth-generation New Electric Car, is based on a Mercedes-Benz A-Class subcompact and is fueled by liquid hydrogen. The fuel-cell system is mounted mostly in the car’s floor, allowing room for five occupants. The car can reach 90 mph and will go 280 miles before it needs refueling.

“This is really a big step forward,” said Ferdinand Panik, head of DaimlerChrysler’s fuel-cell project. “This car is really in the form that we could put in customer hands.”

Still, major obstacles--from the need for significant cost and weight reductions to the development of an alternative-fuel delivery system--must be resolved before cleaner, more efficient fuel-cell cars make it to showrooms.

These issues are prompting DaimlerChrysler to back away from earlier statements that it would begin mass production in 2004 of 40,000 fuel-cell vehicles, with output rising to 100,000 in 2006. Although the goal is still to begin significant production in five years, company officials acknowledge that it could be limited to several thousand vehicles in test fleets.

DaimlerChrysler remains committed to fuel cells. Top executives estimate that the company has already spent $1 billion on research and development and will spend $400 million more before the first vehicles are sold.

“We believe this investment will pay off,” said Juergen Schrempp, co-chairman of DaimlerChrysler.

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Fuel cells, which have long provided on-board power in manned spacecraft, combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water vapor. Fuel-cell power plants are attractive alternatives to the traditional internal combustion engine because they are as much as 50% more fuel-efficient yet are as much as 90% less polluting.

Advances in fuel-cell technology come as the federal government is considering regulations that would drastically curtail tailpipe emissions beginning in 2004 and as Congress considers tightening fuel economy standards.

Carol Browner, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, praised DaimlerChrysler’s development as an exciting move toward a cleaner environment but added that it is just a beginning.

DaimlerChrysler is not alone in pursuing fuel cells. Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. all plan limited production of fuel-cell vehicles by 2004. They appear to be chasing DaimlerChrysler, which is planning to launch demonstration fuel-cell fleets in the U.S., Europe and Japan as early as next year.

The car shown Wednesday uses a hydrogen-fed fuel cell. DaimlerChrysler said such a vehicle would be most appropriate for fleet use, since hydrogen is difficult to obtain and store.

The first fuel-cell vehicles brought to market will probably use methanol, and not gasoline, for example, as methanol can be more easily converted into hydrogen by means of an on-board reformer.

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