Eco Test Driving the Renault Scenic ZEV H2

From the research centre to the road, a test drive for the fuel cell prototype

Fotogallery The future is waiting at Chatenay, a small French centre, not far from Paris, where Renault has shown its zero emission roadmap, organizing a two days’ event featuring workshops, seminars and tests. Hydrogen, fuel cell and hybrid systems, bio-fuels and powertrain downsizing have been the key elements of the French automaker’s strategy aiming at reaching the zero emission target. According to some estimations at the moment Renault is one of the companies whose vehicles produce the lowest CO2 emissions, reaching the third ranking position, while on the electric side, together with Nissan, it is committed in the “Better Place” project which will eventually end with a large supply of battery cars to the Danish and Israeli markets.

At Chatenay the French group has exhibited the best of its research results, such as the Scenic ZEV H2, a sophisticated fuel cell car that H2Roma.org has had the opportunity to test. Its implementation took 15 months and required close continuous contacts with the partner Nissan that has supplied the fuel cells, the tank for the hydrogen and the Li-ion batteries. Renault, instead, has built the chassis, underneath which the Grand Scenic houses all the engine’s key elements, from the fuel cells to the electronic components.
The flatcar has undergone some alterations and now the car is 60 mm higher without affecting, though, the interior, designed for five passengers.

The cost for the development and for the materials used in building such a prototype is one million euros, which is worth to be taken into account while you are driving it. In detail, its whole system is based on five main components: the tank that provides hydrogen to the fuel cells, the electronic system that allows the batteries and the electric motor to interface each other thanks to a computer, and the Li-ion batteries.

The result is a car with a 90 kW power , fuelled by hydrogen gas stored at 350 bar, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 160 km/h, weighing 1850 kg (300 more than the standard version) and whose range is 350 km.Driving the Scenic ZEV H2 is very comfortable and when you push the Start button to switch on the car, , no mechanic noise is heard. It is impressive. The only noise perceived, while driving, is some possible aerodynamic swishing and the rolling tyres. The tailpipe, then, emits only water vapour, not a single gram of CO2. But what are the technical secrets hidden under its chassis? First of all the battery feed the electric motor by itself, without any other supported , This is the ideal for the urban use during the acceleration when extra power is needed.

Then either on the motorway or on long driving distances the energy not used by the electric motor is conveyed to the power supply battery; instead, when more energy is required (climbing or overtaking) both the modes come into play. When the car is at a standstill, the energy produced by the fuel cells is used to recharge the lithium batteries and, finally, while decelerating, the electric motor works as a generator supplying power to the batteries. Actually, after testing this car one can realize how hydrogen technologies have lately raced ahead.