Hydrogen-powered car developed in Portugal started the engine and accelerated – Computers

One sustainable city car powered by hydrogen, designed and built in Portugal: this is how the Instituto Superior Técnico team presents the “Fuel Cell Technician”recently made known in a roll out to the public in which started the engine and took a few laps, despite some unexpected challenges.

At this moment, the Fuel Cell Technician – aka TFC01- consists of a 130kg prototype with only one drive wheel for efficiency reasons, featuring PEM fuel cell technology (Proton Exchange Membrane).

A use of hydrogen (at 200bar) as fuel guarantees the production of clean and sustainable energy to power the vehicle’s electric motor. Result: instead of polluting fumes, pure water comes out as waste.

“It is the only team in Portugal with an H2-powered car developed by students, but it also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, innovation and technological development”, summarizes Duarte Soares, team leader of TFC01.

In the future, the project will be able to be accompanied in the “Shell Eco-marathon by Urban Concepts” competition, but before that, he started the engine and took a few laps, for the first time for the general public.

“The presentation of TFC01 was, like the work developed so far, a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges, but it ended up being a success”, said Duarte Soares in statements to SAPO TEK, highlighting the team’s preparation “for the unexpected ”.

The team leader shared that in the last few weeks before the event there were unexpected challenges“from a motor controller that burned out, to a DC/DC in the powertrain which also decided to short circuit, an engine support that didn’t want to stay in place and a body that didn’t seem to want to be painted well.”

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Not even the weather conditions helped on the day of the roll out, Friday, March 28th, with a storm that forced the team to adapt plans Test drive Of car. The solution was convince IST to let the car drive inside the Central Pavilion. And walked.

“Despite all the work and dedication, when forming this team and designing this prototype we learned that things don’t always go as we want. We have to adapt and make it work, be engineers”, said Duarte Soares.

At this moment, he added, the team “can’t wait for the competition in France”, as well as for upcoming events and upcoming next prototypes “which we are already starting to design!”.

O TFC01 It currently has 49 members from different areas of engineering, including Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, including Chemistry and even Materials. The implementation of this project involves a unique collaboration between students, teachers and private companies.

Companies such as Ecocompositos, Effectech from the UK, Mouser from the USA, Bolas and Beta Tools, RTS, Emetres and Massivit from Israel, MEANWELL from Taiwan, BRM Land Africa from Sintra and Sensiron from Switzerland provided essential materials and technologies for the construction of the vehicle. O financial and technical support comes from organizations such as Galp Energia, REN, Grupo ProCME, Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Santander.

“The Fuel Cell Technician represents the best of innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship in Portugal. Our work aims to inspire the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs, but also position the country at the forefront of the sustainable mobility revolution”, summarizes Duarte Soares.