Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co Ltd (TYO:7201) last week unveiled in Brazil an e-Bio Fuel-Cell prototype that runs on bioethanol electric power.

After announcing in June it was developing the world's first Solid Oxide Fuel-Cell (SOFC)-powered vehicle, the company will now test a prototype on the roads in Brazil. The vehicle runs on 100% ethanol to charge a 24-kWh battery. It offers a cruising range of over 600 km (373 miles) and has carbon-neutral emissions, the company says. In addition, the e-Bio Fuel-Cell has low running costs equivalent to these for an electric vehicle (EV).

The prototype can use existing infrastructure, which makes it easy to introduce to the market, according to the carmaker. "Without the need to create new infrastructure, it has great potential to drive market growth," said Nissan president and chief executive Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan expects its e-Bio Fuel-Cell technology to be ready as early as 2020.

Source: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/nissan-unveils-bio-ethanol-fuel-cell-prototype-535522