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Global Concepts (Part 2)
Ford TH!NK FC5
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The TH!NK FC5 is based on the 2000 Ford Focus sedan and has most of its fuel-cell system beneath the floor. The system was developed by the Ballard/DaimlerChrysler/Ford affiliate, DBB Fuel Cell Engines Inc. The concept vehicle marks the debut of Ballard's latest fuel-cell module, the Mark 900, and has DBB's latest-generation methanol reformer. The car's electric motor was designed by Ecostar Electric Drive Systems-another Ballard, DaimlerChrysler, and Ford affiliated company. The FC5's reformer extracts pure hydrogen from methanol to react with oxygen. The gaseous hydrogen fuel, and oxygen supplied in the form of compressed air, flow separately into the compact fuel-cell stack, which is comprised of several hundred individual fuel cells, each generating about 1 V. Direct current from the fuel cells is then converted into alternating current to power the vehicle's electric motor.
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