Fuel-cell-powered four-wheel automobile
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHidenori Nagura, Nobuaki Komuro, Noboru Yamashita
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tank is disposed beneath a floor for storing methanol and water. A reforming unit is disposed beneath the floor for generating hydrogen from methanol and water supplied from the tank. A fuel cell is disposed beneath the floor for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen generated by the reforming unit and oxygen in air. A secondary battery is disposed beneath the floor for storing electricity generated by the fuel cell. In this way, mechanisms for generating electricity from air, methanol, and water are centralized.
Claims17
A fuel-cell-powered four-wheel automobile having a chassis which is of a rectangular shape as viewed in plan with four wheels positioned at respective four corners thereof, a riding seat disposed substantially centrally on the chassis, a flat floor mounted on said chassis in front of the riding seat, and an electric motor for moving the four-wheel automobile, wherein a tank is disposed beneath said floor for storing material for a fuel cell, wherein said fuel cell is disposed beneath said floor for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in air, and a secondary battery is disposed beneath said floor for storing electricity generated by the fuel cell,
- wherein said fuel cell is disposed entirely on one side of a central line which divides the chassis into left and right portions, and said electric motor is disposed entirely on an opposite side of said central line.
A fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle, comprising:
- a substantially rectangular chassis;
- four wheels positioned at respective four corners of said chassis;
- a riding seat disposed substantially centrally on said chassis;
- a substantially flat floor mounted on said chassis in front of said riding seat;
- an electric motor for moving the four-wheel vehicle;
- a fuel cell disposed beneath said floor for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in air;
- and
- a tank disposed beneath said floor for storing material for said fuel cell;
- and
- a secondary battery disposed beneath said floor for storing electricity generated by said fuel cell,
- wherein said fuel cell is disposed entirely on one side of a central line which divides the chassis into left and right portions, and said electric motor is disposed entirely on an opposite side of said central line.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis having a floor;
- a plurality of wheels supporting said chassis;
- a case located below said floor;
- a fuel cell disposed in said case for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in air;
- and
- a tank disposed in said case for storing material for said fuel cell;
- and
- a secondary battery disposed in said case for storing electricity generated by said fuel cell,
- wherein said fuel cell is disposed entirely on one side of a central line which divides the chassis into left and right portions, and said electric motor is disposed entirely on an opposite side of said central line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.