26/05/08

Phylla, the city car born in Turin

Developed by the Fiat research centre in cooperation with the Turin Polytechnic, it is equipped with solar cells, a fuel cell engine and li-ion batteries

The bodywork is made out of fully recyclable materials. Instead of petrol it run on hydrogen and on the electricity generated by small solar panels. It is called “Phylla”, a prototype developed by the Fiat research centre together with the ‘Environment Park’, the Turin Polytechnic and many other partners such as IED, a higher school of design and applied arts, and the local chamber of commerce. The main target of the project is quite far-reaching: a sustainable urban concept, economical and ten times thriftier than any standard city car.

It was conceived to meet the car sharing needs at railway stations, airports and local business facilities. The fuel cell engine, which generates 1 kw power, is assisted by a li-ion or polymer battery pack and a 340 watt photovoltaic system. The Phylla total range is estimated to reach 220 km of which 18-20 km will be provided for by the solar panels. These results have been obtained thanks to the use of lightweight materials which altogether total only 750 kg, with a weight-power ratio of 10.2 kg/hp.

“We think that Piedmont may become a reference for Europe and Italy because of its commitment in a better quality of the environment and people’s life – said the president of the region Mercedes Bresso – The project was born out of a challenge taken up by the Fiat Research Centre and the Turin Polytechnic: a solar-powered car that did not have to refuel at service stations, but equipped with advanced eco technologies, with a platform suitable to different requirements and with batteries able to perform all day long. Actually the close cooperation among the local agencies and research institutions involved has enabled us to develop a very technologically advanced product in quite a short time.” “The sector of private research and industry – said Nevio Di Giusto, Managing Director of the Fiat Research Centre – plays a crucial role as a partner in the research of new technologies. We, therefore, took up the challenge, though at the beginning we were a little hesitant, and we created a network cooperation exploiting all the opportunities of the territory.”