Audi is working towards a hydrogen powered four-wheel-drive Audi A7. This technology uses a Low-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LTPEM) fuel cell stack and carbonfibre tanks, together with a plug-in Li-ion battery and a pair of electric motors. This configuration is good for 500km.
Instead of the traditional internal combustion engine that is mounted on the regular A7, this one will use over 300 cells at the same place, each of which will be a polymer membrane separated by a platinum-based catalyst. They operate in a voltage range between 230 and 360 volts.
Two electric motors will be mounted, one at the front and the other at the rear. Individually, both can develop 114bhp and 27.5kgm, which means the combined output will be 228bhp and 55kgm, which is good enough to push the 1,950kg A7 h-tron from 0-100kph in 7.8sec and to a top speed of 180kph.
Audi's technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg said hydrogen power would form part of an increasing varied drivetrain landscape in the future: "This is the most forward-looking concept from our research and development team. The A7 h-tron is unique in many regards.
"It is the first performance fuel cell vehicle, but it's important to know that CO2 emissions are zero. This is outperforming the competition. It is a bold statement for the potential of fuel cells and a benchmark innovation."
The Audi A7 h-tron is the third hydrogen powered prototype, following the A2 H2 and Q5 HFC, from the German car manufacturer’s laboratories.