In recent years, with the implementation of environmental protection, energy conservation and emission reduction policies, new energy models have achieved unprecedented development, and have gradually grown into new sales figures in the auto market. In the process of the development of new energy vehicles, the update and iteration of power battery technology cannot be ignored, and this has become the most important part of the development of the new energy industry.
Among them, the most representative models equipped with power batteries are the Tesla Model series and the BYD Han EV, which has just been launched. These two highly representative models correspond to the two major camps of current power batteries. One is the ternary lithium battery mainly produced by CATL, and the other is BYD's latest research and development result, the lithium iron phosphate "blade" battery. However, the properties of these two batteries are not completely satisfactory for the development of the existing new energy automobile industry. The power battery used in the SAIC MAXUS EUNIQ 7 model to be mentioned next is a supplement to the current power battery. Class exists, that is hydrogen fuel cells. Next, let's talk about hydrogen fuel cells while analyzing EUNIQ?7?
What kind of car is SAIC MAXUS EUNIQ 7?
The model we are talking about today is the EUNIQ 7. Although the official has not yet given detailed information, we will briefly talk about it based on the existing spy photos. According to relevant declaration information and spy photos, the car is a new hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicle based on the SAIC MAXUS G20 model. The car is positioned as a medium and large MPV. Obviously, this car is largely designed for commercial use. However, the official placement of this model in the new EUNIQ series also indirectly proves that the car can still support family use. It is reported that the new car will be officially launched at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show, which will open on September 26.
In terms of design, the front face of the new car uses slender headlights and a large air intake grille. However, as a new energy model, it adopts a rounded closed grille similar to that of the EUNIQ?6. grille, which will also highlight the differentiation from the fuel version of the G20.
At the same time, the overall body continues to adopt a straight and square shape to create a more spacious interior space, while the rear continues the G20’s full and solid design style, with the taillights extending to both sides, widening the entire vehicle. horizontal visual effects.
In terms of power, the car uses a 150kW drive motor and is equipped with a high-pressure hydrogen storage tank to send hydrogen into the fuel cell and generate electrical energy through a chemical reaction. Its NEDC comprehensive cruising range can reach 550km. , and the vehicle can complete hydrogenation within 5 minutes and can achieve cold start of the vehicle at minus 30°C.
What is a hydrogen fuel cell?
Now that we are talking about power, everyone will definitely be thinking about a question, why choose hydrogen fuel cells, but I think before thinking about this question, we must first know what a hydrogen fuel cell is. Hydrogen fuel cells, as the name suggests, are batteries that use hydrogen to create energy. This chapter of the electrolysis of water when we were in school is the most basic reaction principle. Hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to the two poles respectively. The hydrogen ions that dissociate the electrons reach the positive electrode through the action of the catalyst. As long as the positive electrode is continuously fed Supplying oxygen can continuously provide it with electrical energy, but it is worth noting that hydrogen fuel cells cannot store energy, so it should be more accurately regarded as a chemical reaction power generation device.
Why choose hydrogen fuel cells? In fact, the original intention of developing electric vehicles is to seek cleaner power energy to replace fossil fuels. As an energy source, hydrogen is cleaner, and the only by-products after chemical reaction are water and heat. In addition, hydrogen comes from a wide range of sources and can be obtained from methane, coal, water, and even garbage. Therefore, hydrogen fuel cells have become the most important product and way to achieve energy security for countries currently lacking resources. And to a certain extent, the cruising range and hydrogenation time of hydrogen fuel cells are equivalent to the efficiency of current fuel vehicles. This is also the most important basis for scholars who currently support the development of hydrogen fuel cells to support their views.
Have the "four major problems" of hydrogen been solved?
For SAIC MAXUS, it is the first domestic car company to develop and produce hydrogen fuel cell models. As early as 2017, it launched the wide-body light passenger FCV80 for commercial use, and the EUNIQ?7 The arrival of SAIC's MAXUS hydrogen fuel cell technology is to a certain extent an update of SAIC's MAXUS hydrogen fuel cell technology. However, some basic problems of hydrogen fuel cells that we currently know have yet to be solved, such as the source of hydrogen, how to solve the scarcity of catalyst metal platinum, the safety of hydrogen, and the cost of using hydrogen.
One of the issues closely related to consumers is the safety of hydrogen and the price of hydrogen. As the lightest gas, the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen is 4 times higher than that of space, so how to prevent hydrogen from "escaping" It is a very technical issue; at the same time, in terms of vehicle cost control, currently pure electric models generally charge about 60 yuan, and how to use green hydrogen and the cost are difficult. After all, all processes require electrolysis, and electrolysis The power consumption of the process can also meet the needs of ordinary electric vehicles. In this case, these problems are what SAIC MAXUS EUNIQ 7 needs to focus on solving. Perhaps the answers everyone wants will be given when the new car is unveiled in a few days.
Conclusion:
Taken together, the discussion and practice of hydrogen fuel cells have never stopped in the field of new energy in recent years. After all, hydrogen fuel cells have the advantage of being cleaner when used. , may become the main source of power for the automotive industry in the future; however, for the current vehicle environment, there are still great obstacles such as cruising range, cost of use, safety of raw materials, etc. I wonder how EUNIQ?7 will solve these problems. Question, we will wait and see if you have any opinions on this field, please leave a message below.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.