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Fiat to Show New Natural Gas and Electric Light Commercial Vehicles at Hanover
15 September 2008
Two new Fiat natural gas light commercial vehicles will make their debut at the Hanover International Motor Show (25 September to 2 October): the Ducato and Fiorino Natural Power models. Fiat held a 47% share of new natural gas commercial vehicles in Europe in 2007 (66.8% in Italy); in the 1B segment, with Doblò Natural Power in particular, Fiat has a 45% market share in Europe.
In addition, Fiat will introduce a lithium-ion battery-electric version of the new Fiorino, produced by Micro-Vett in cooperation with Centro Ricerche Fiat (Fiat Research Centre).
Ducato Natural Power. The dual-fuel, natural gas-gasoline van uses a 3-liter engine that develops a maximum output of 136 hp (100 kW) in the natural gas mode from 2,750 to 3,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) at 1,500 rpm. When using natural gas fuel has a maximum speed of 153 kph (95 mph); accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 13.9 seconds; accelerates from 60 to 100 kph (in 5th gear) in 10.1 seconds; can climb a 21.5% gradient; and consumes 9.3 kg of natural gas every 100 km.
This engine was developed and produced by Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT). The vehicle is configured to operate normally on natural gas, switching to gasoline when the natural gas supply is running out. The 15-liter (4-gallon US) gasoline tank supports a 100 km (62 mile) range to reach the nearest natural gas supply station.
Five gas cylinders—two 50-liter cylinders (equivalent to 8.5 kg each) and three 40-liter cylinders (equivalent to 6.8 kg each)—are located under the floor, maintaining full use of the loading area. Overall capacity is 220 liters (corresponding to 37.4 kg), supporting a range of 400 km that assures a range of 400 km (249 miles).
The natural gas is stored at 200 bar nominal at 15°C, and flows into a special pipe to the pressure reducer/regulator that supplies the 4 low-pressure injectors (at approximately 7 bar). These are mounted on the cylinder heads and are activated by the specific electronic control unit. The control unit automatically switches the fuel supply to the gasoline mode if the natural gas supply runs low.
Fiorino Combi Natural Power. The prototype of the Fiorino Combi Natural Power is also a dual-fuel solution. The vehicle runs primarily on natural gas. Engine start is always performed in gasoline mode, and then switches to the natural gas system. The changeover from natural gas to gasoline and vice versa, however, can be performed manually by pressing a button on the dashboard.
The new Fiorino Combi uses a 1.4-liter gasoline engine with a Multipoint sequential phased system. This enables the engine to achieve a performance comparable with the performance of diesel engines when operating in the natural gas mode, according to Fiat. The engine’s maximum output is 65 hp (48 kW) at 5,200 rpm when running in the natural gas mode, while the maximum torque is 104 Nm (77 lb-ft) at 2,600 rpm. Top speed is approximately 150 kph (93 mph).
In the gasoline mode, output is 73 hp (54 kW) at 5,200 rpm and 118 Nm (87 lb-ft) at 2,600 rpm. CO2 emissions correspond to 136 g/km in the natural gas mode compared with 164 g/km when in the gasoline mode.
The natural gas is stored in two steel gas cylinders, positioned under the floor, which have an overall capacity of 86 liters (corresponding to approximately 15 kg of gas) and assure a maximum range of 300 km (217 miles), with consumption of 5 kg/100 km in the combined cycle. The 45-liter (12-gaollon US) gasoline tank supports an additional range of 600 km (373 miles), for a total combined range of 900 km (560 miles).
Fiorino Electric. The new all-electric Fiorino will be on sale at the end of year and is equipped with a three-phase asynchronous electric motor with a power output of 30 kW continuous, 60 kW peak. Nominal torque is 130 Nm (96 lb-ft), with peak torque of 260 Nm. The electric Fiorino can accelerate from 0 to 50 kph 6.4 seconds and has a maximum speed in excess of 100 kph. The vehicle can climb a 20% gradient at full load.
The Fiorino Electric will be also be available with a 65 Nm nominal torque motor (130 Nm peak torque value) and with a maximum power output of 15/30 kW.
A lithium-ion battery pack is housed in three high-resistance steel structures positioned in areas which, in the case of the conventional vehicle, house the mechanical components, the spare tire and the exhaust system. The layout maintains the conventional version’s volume and overall dimensions. The spare tire is replaced by a fix&go tire inflating kit.
The Li-ion pack supports a range in excess of 100 km according to the ECE 101 urban cycle and can be recharged in 6-8 hours using the domestic mains supply with a 3 kW socket (the recharging operation is completed in only 3 hours if a 9 kW mains supply is available).
September 15, 2008 in Electric (Battery), Natural Gas | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: clett | September 15, 2008 at 06:46 AM
Natural gas seems to be an ideal replacement for gasoline, far better than H2. AT least you can pump it out of the ground and do not have to build Nuke plants to generate it.
+ you can generate biomethane from a variety of sources.
+ it is cleaner than diesel (and gasoline ?)
Would it make a good fuel for range extenders for battery vehicles (PHEVlits's) ? If it is cleaner, it might be possible to use it in a smaller, simpler engine while still reaching environmental regulations.
+ it is readily available and a distribution network already exists - to people's houses.
Seems like a better deal.
a Question: Do you get embrittlement as you do with H2 ?
Posted by: mahonj | September 15, 2008 at 07:15 AM
At last an electric car from top line auto company. goverments should ask auto companies to start trial car in hundreds. They will help Earth survive from pollution.
Posted by: NIRMALKUMAR WALA | September 15, 2008 at 07:17 AM
It seems like dual fuel FFV PHEV would be a good combination. It adds to the cost of the vehicle, but gives more flexibility. If you do not have enough advanced batteries, the expansion could be a future option. FFV does not cost much per vehicle and dual fuel E85/NG would be a good hedge.
Posted by: sjc | September 15, 2008 at 09:32 AM
"Seems like a better deal.
a Question: Do you get embrittlement as you do with H2 ?"
You do not get embrittlement, but remember, natural gas is a green house gas.
H2 can be created from water and electricity and is GHG free. It also can be used in a fuel cell.
Posted by: | September 15, 2008 at 09:51 AM
"Seems like a better deal.
a Question: Do you get embrittlement as you do with H2 ?"
You do not get embrittlement, but remember, natural gas is a green house gas.
H2 can be created from water and electricity and is GHG free. It also can be used in a fuel cell.
Posted by: Jay Tee | September 15, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Another possibity for a lighter PHEV would be a very light compact NG rotary genset.
Also, one of the two on-board electric motors could be automatically reconfigured as a rotary engine driven generator to recharge the batteries during extended trips. The other e-motor would keep the car going at an acceptable crusing speed.
Of course, both e-motors would be used when required for quick accelerations and for steep grades but only one e-motor would move the car most of the time.
Posted by: HarveyD | September 15, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I used natural gas in Agentina from 1988 to 1995, and was fabulous. The car reacts a little slower than with gasoline,with two small tanks I was able to drive more or less 130 miles, and then change to gasoline until I reach a gas station. The change to natural gas or to gasoline was really very easy and can be done while driving moving one switch. But sure if it is possible my preference goes to dual mode like the Volt or BYD dual mode, electric and natural gas instead of gasoline.
Posted by: Rafael | September 15, 2008 at 02:41 PM
I live in Argentina and I have two cars with NG. One is and old carbureted 1987 Fiat Regatta that makes 200 km (highway, 120 km/h) with 12 m3. Spark plugs last two or three times more and oil is ever clean. Valves may suffer a bit more due to absence of gasoline vaporization but is not a great problem (new cars are NG ready).You can compare exhaust gases versus gasoline and can smell the difference.
NG is far the best fuel now available, but it´s not forever. Our country have a very gasified energy matrix
(combined cycle electric plants and domestic heaters and stoves) and we now have a serious problem due to an overestimation of our NG resources. As a result we are praying bolivians for a bit of NG, and now we are buying LNG with the extra cost implicit (giant tankers, freight, degasification, etc).
I think that a better policy, as long as ICE lasts, is to diversifie sources of fuels and of course make lighter and more efficient vehicles.
Posted by: mario | September 15, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Maybe synthesizing methane from biomass could be cheaper than LNG. If a region has good agricultural output, they could have enough biomass to create plenty of methane to put in the pipelines. That would provide a more sustainable supply to make future planning for houses, cars and buildings more certain without installing expensive LNG facilities.
Posted by: sjc | September 16, 2008 at 12:03 AM
True, in my opinion, to design and manufacture electric cars is the trend in the future of car industry since the price of oil is so high. As far as I am concerned, Nanjing Dongyu Auto Group ,which represents the mass of small-to-medium-sized enterprises, has put their emphasis on manufacturing electric cars and elctric bicycles
Posted by: Ndy-auto | September 17, 2008 at 09:03 PM
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"if a 9 kW mains supply is available"
We all have electric showers these days, each about 9-10 kW.