WAE Technologies (WAE), the UK-based technology company that grew out of Formula One’s Williams Grand Prix Engineering and is now owned by Australia’s Fortescue mining and energy company, has revealed a new ultra-high performance hydrogen fuel cell electric (FCEV) vehicle platform.
The platform – EVRh – features a lightweight composite structure with the high-performance hydrogen fuel cell and battery system situated in the middle of the vehicle. The company says the platform’s design flexibility enables manufacturers to create multiple configurations from track-only vehicle, where power-to-weight is maximised, to road-going models of both open-roof Targa and fixed-roof GT style.
This is made possible by the architecture’s central tub which has been designed to allow for such flexibility – including open roof designs – while still featuring the latest performance technology such as active aerodynamics.
The powertrain has a liquid-cooled FCEV battery pack at its core, with EVRh capable of discharging 430kW of power and having 120kW charge power. WAE says it is capable of sub-2.5secs 0-100km/h acceleration. Hydrogen storage is in two tanks with a combined volume of 100 litres enabling a range of 600km. All-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive layouts are supported through multiple e-motor configurations.
WAE says the hydrogen hybrid powertrain brings multiple benefits to manufacturers, enabling an accelerated route to market, with the entire engineering and assembly completed by WAE, significantly reducing time and cost from development to market launch.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (September 2023)
26 September 2023