Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News Mexico
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • login
  • HOME
  • NEWS BY BRAND
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
    • Daimler
    • Fiat Chrysler
    • Ford
    • General Motors
    • Honda
    • Hyundai
    • Mazda
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Subaru
    • Tata
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
    • Volkswagen
    • Volvo
    • Mini
    • Rolls Royce
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Smart
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Chrysler
    • Dodge
    • Ferrari
    • Fiat
    • Jeep
    • Lancia
    • Maserati
    • Ram
    • Lincoln
    • Buick
    • Cadillac
    • Chevrolet
    • GMC
    • Acura
    • Kia
    • Infiniti
    • Jaguar
    • Land Rover
    • Lexus
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • Bugatti
    • Lamborghini
    • Porsche
  • News
    • Auto Shows
    • Photo Galleries
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Retail
    • Government Relations
    • Trade and Tariffs
    • Technology
    • Labour
    • Lawsuit challenges Trump's authority on steel, auto tariffs
      Automaker-supplier relationships take a hit
      Ghosn's ace for growth: Suppliers
      In-demand tech puts wary suppliers on guard, study finds
    • U.S. metal tariffs sting Magna, but USMCA brings promise of additional work
      U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum could be gone in weeks, ambassador says
      Magna posts record Q4 revenue, but profits and margins decline
      Ontario aims to replace GM with Magna, Martinrea or other in Oshawa
    • Kia dealer Benny Leung a true Canadian-immigrant success story
      AutoCanada sues former CEO Patrick Priestner for $250M over dealership acquisitions
      Rolls-Royce names BMW exec its new sales VP for Americas
      How GM's Oshawa closure could affect sales, dealerships
    • Level 3 autonomous vehicles now allowed on Ontario roads
      Ford adds 149,652 vehicles in Canada to Takata airbag recall
      Honda wants recall notices to be part of registration renewals
      All wet: Rain could delay the arrival of self-driving future
    • U.S. metal tariffs sting Magna, but USMCA brings promise of additional work
      U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum could be gone in weeks, ambassador says
      A look at which automakers in Canada meet USMCA's 75% content rule
      Canada seeks Pelosi's support in push to lift U.S. metal tariffs
    • Vehicle screens go super-sized at CES as tech catches up
      All in a day's work
      Ford commits US$4 billion to autonomous vehicles, forms new subsidiary
      Massive data breach at Canadian company hits several automakers, report says
    • GM Canada says it will find 2,400 jobs for Oshawa workers
      FCA to idle Ontario minivan plant for 8 days, union says
      Unifor calls for boycott of GM vehicles if automaker closes Oshawa plant
      Unifor's Jerry Dias, Magna's Don Walker named Automotive News All Stars
    • Toronto Auto Show
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Chevy's 2019 Blazer: More Camaro, less Equinox
      Trump's troubling definition of victory
      The 2019 Nautilus: Lincoln's Cadillac Super Cruise fighter?
      What Cadillac dealers can expect from Steve Carlisle
  • EVENTS, WEBINARS & AWARDS
    • 2018 Auto News Canada All Stars
    • Best Dealership To Work For
    • Canada Congress
    • Webinars
    • More women in dealerships is just plain good for business
    • VIDEO: Why Ford's Hinrichs is bullish on USMCA
      Ontario aims to replace GM with Magna, Martinrea or other in Oshawa
      Dealers told standalone stores 'difficult to remain profitable'
      Ford's Joe Hinrichs: Plant closures have 'cascading effects' on industry
  • +MORE
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • CONTACT US
    • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Canada
June 14, 2017 01:00 AM

Magna shopping its hydrogen fuel-cell range extender for EVs

Steve Mertl
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Magna first revealed the fuel cell range-extended electric vehicle (FCREEV) in March at the Geneva auto show.

    VANCOUVER – Magna International is offering a solution to one of the main knocks against battery-electric vehicles – the time it takes to recharge on long trips.

    The Canadian auto-parts giant is shopping around a hydrogen fuel-cell platform as a range extender for battery EVs. It first revealed the fuel cell range-extended electric vehicle (FCREEV) in March at the Geneva auto show.

    The system was developed at the Magna Steyr Engineering facility in Graz, Austria, in partnership with fuel-cell developer Proton Motor of Germany and two Austrian research institutes, with funding from the Austrian government.

    The vehicle, converted from conventional range-extender hybrid minivan, can operate in different modes depending on the kind of driving, optimizing the system based on its state of charge.

    Combining the two sources of electric power allows the design to reduce the size and weight of the battery and the fuel-cell stack while offering both rapid battery recharging and hydrogen refuelling capabilities.

    “We see from this approach that in terms of costs and performance we have key benefits for the end user,” Guido Bartlok, Magna Steyr’s hydrogen systems manager told the recent Hydrogen Fuel Cell Conference in Vancouver.

    Magna has developed fuel-cell components before, he said, but this was the first time it has integrated such a system into a vehicle.

    The fuel-cell range extender vehicle addresses the main criticism of battery EVs as long-range zero-emission vehicles.

    For example, Bartlok explained, a 700-kilometre drive between Vienna and Stuttgart, Germany normally takes about seven hours. Assuming fast-charging facilities are available en route, a battery EV would need up to 10.5 hours.

    But the all-wheel-drive FCREEV would add only 15 minutes to the journey if it needs one hydrogen refuelling stop, Bartlok said. If no refuelling facility is available, it could fall back on battery fast-charging.

    A smart human-machine interface would allow the driver to select different driving modes and energy-use options, from battery-only driving, eco mode that disengages four-wheel-drive and charge-safe mode that engages the fuel cell to recharge the battery and extend range using parameters such as vehicle performance and load on the HVAC system.

    Proton provided the fuel-cell stack while Magna supplied key components such as the battery, charging system, air compressor to feed the fuel cell, hydrogen tank and pressure regulator.

    Besides allowing for faster inter-city trips, the FCREEV could be used in other roles where long range and fast recharging are important, such as for taxi and shuttle services, Bartlok said.

    Magna Steyr produces about 200,000 vehicles a year at its Steyr assembly plant, making it the world’s biggest unbranded car manufacturer, Bartlok said.

    The company has no plans to produce the FCREEV independently, he told Automotive News Canada.

    “We are just a contract manufacturer,” he said in an interview. “Our OEMs are our customers so we’ll offer this to our customers that we have the capability and the knowledge to do it."

    Recommended for You
    Digital Edition
    Thumbnail
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up today for our Weekly Newsletter, Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts. We'll deliver the news you need to know straight to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Subscribe Today

    An Automotive News Canada subscription includes 12 monthly issues – delivered in print to your doorstep, and digitally to your inbox – plus unlimited, 24/7 access to our website.

    Subscribe
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Our Mission

    The Automotive News Canada mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in Canada.

    Contact Us

    PO Box 243
    Station A
    Windsor, ON
    N9A 6K7

    1-877-812-1257

    Email Us

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • Advertise with Us
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • NEWS BY BRAND
      • Aston Martin
      • BMW
        • Mini
        • Rolls Royce
      • Daimler
        • Mercedes Benz
        • Smart
      • Fiat Chrysler
        • Alfa Romeo
        • Chrysler
        • Dodge
        • Ferrari
        • Fiat
        • Jeep
        • Lancia
        • Maserati
        • Ram
      • Ford
        • Lincoln
      • General Motors
        • Buick
        • Cadillac
        • Chevrolet
        • GMC
      • Honda
        • Acura
      • Hyundai
        • Kia
      • Mazda
      • Mitsubishi
      • Nissan
        • Infiniti
      • Subaru
      • Tata
        • Jaguar
        • Land Rover
      • Tesla
      • Toyota
        • Lexus
      • Volkswagen
        • Audi
        • Bentley
        • Bugatti
        • Lamborghini
        • Porsche
      • Volvo
    • News
      • Auto Shows
        • Toronto Auto Show
      • Photo Galleries
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Retail
      • Government Relations
      • Trade and Tariffs
      • Technology
      • Labour
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
    • EVENTS, WEBINARS & AWARDS
      • 2018 Auto News Canada All Stars
      • Best Dealership To Work For
      • Canada Congress
      • Webinars
    • +MORE
      • NEWSLETTERS
      • SUBSCRIBE
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • CONTACT US
      • DIGITAL EDITION