Introducing SILENT-F: a step towards an electric vehicle for everyday use
14 May 2014
To build and test a light transport vehicle using a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) hybrid system - this is the aim of SILENT-F, a joint project of Forschungszentrum Jülich and the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences (Jülich Campus), started in December 2013 and presented for the first time on the Forschungszentrum campus on 7 May 2014.
By the end of the project, a demonstration vehicle equipped with a DMFC hybrid system will be ready for application-oriented tests, and thus taking another step towards implementing an electric vehicle for everyday use.
The crucial advantages of this concept lie in the improvements it offers in terms of both range and extended operating time in comparison with battery-only vehicles. These plus points, in addition to a higher degree of safety and lower environmental impact, are essential if electric vehicles are to be successful in the market place. Furthermore, the DMFC as a range-extender makes the engine considerably quieter than comparative ones in general use. The SILENT-F project is based on a commercially available vehicle for in-house transport or municipal use.
