Thai researcher introduces fuel cell-powered car

BANGKOK, Thailand : July 11 (TNA) – The Office of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has launched a prototype of a fuel cell car, urging the government to support its production for commercial use.

NRCT secretary-general Ahnond Bunyaratvej said the ten kilowatt fuel cell sedan was developed from 960 kilowatt fuel cell car by Air Marshall Morakot Charnsamruat.

The car is powered by electricity produced by proton exchange membrane fuel cells which transform the chemical energy liberated during the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to electrical energy.

The car can last about ten years. The car's maximum speed is 93 kilometres per hour and it doesn't emit smoke or noise, so it can help reduce pollution.

AM Morakot said a fuel cell car produced in other countries costs about Bt32 million but his prototype car costs only two million baht.

Hydrogen used in producing electricity to run the car came from factories in the eastern province of Rayong. He said about eight million litres of hydrogen annually are wasted from these factories.

The NRCT executive added that if the government supports fuel car production and hydrogen filling stations, the amount of hydrogen can serve about 126,000 cars. He added that hydrogen can also be produced by solar cells. (TNA)

[Source : Thai News Agencies via MCOT]