Shanghai-Volkswagen to showcase hydrogen fuel-cell Passat Lingyu at L.A. Auto Show

Volkswagen’s partnership with Shangai Auto to build cars and develop new technology together will be showing off the fruits of its labor at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show, with the unveiling of a hydrogen fuel cell powered Passat Lingyu sedan. The Passat Lingyu has been built by the joint-venture in China since last year and the new fuel cell model will be used to promote alternative energy mobility, with a view to mass production sometime in 2010.

The fuel cell found in the Passat Lingyu has been developed jointly by Shanghai-VW, Tongji University, and Chinese technology firm Shanghai Shen-Li High Tech, reports Shanghai Securities News. The clean powertrain features a 120hp (88kW) electric drive motor running on lithium-ion batteries that are charged by a 75hp (55kW) fuel cell in the base of the car.

This is capable of taking the Passat to a top speed of 93mph and a range of 190 miles on a single tank of hydrogen.

The Passat Lingyu fuel cell won't be the only hydrogen car on display at this year’s L.A. event, with South Korean company Kia set to debut its own Borrego hydrogen fuel cell powered SUV. The Borrego Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle outputs 154hp (115kW) from its fuel cell system, and is capable of travelling up to 426 miles with its three tanks of hydrogen. The concept vehicle’s powertrain also features a 450 volt super-capacitor rated at 134hp (100kW), which together with the fuel cell, is used to power a 147hp (109kW) electric motor.