Originally published February 12 2006
Webasto unveils auxiliary power unit for vehicles' electrical systems
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
After three years of development, aftermarket vehicle-products company Webasto has unveiled its auxiliary power unit (APU), which powers a vehicle's electrical system independently of the engine by drawing directly from the vehicle's fuel supply.
After an intensive development period lasting around three years, Webasto now possesses the prototype of an auxiliary power unit that runs stably, operates autonomously and can be switched on or off cyclically.
Webasto has deliberately applied itself to the auxiliary power unit (APU) in contrast to fuel cell technology for propulsion systems: The objective of the development was to provide a unit that would supplement the on-board electrical power supply of vehicles independently of the drive engine, using the fuel (petrol or diesel) that the engine also uses.
The APU will make it possible to avoid future problems in the on-board electricity supply due to the increasing number of electrical loads in the vehicle.
Above all as far as the system components (pumps, blower, fuel evaporators) are concerned, Webasto can largely rely on parts that are already in use in series production auxiliary heaters.
The patented reformer operates according to the principle of catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) which converts the liquid diesel fuel into synthesis gas and creates the hydrogenic gas required for the fuel cell.
The operating temperature of the APU is reached at 850 �C although the fuel cell starts generating electrical current from 700 �C upwards and thereby reduces the load on the starter battery.
The first applications for the Webasto APU are planned for 2008 in trucks and leisure vehicles (caravans and boats).
The existing cooperation between H.C. Starck GmbH and Webasto AG started in 2003 and has now been significantly intensified through the foundation of the joint venture company, Staxera GmbH.
The objective of the cooperation is to develop SOFC fuel cell modules (stacks) to series production readiness for use both in automotive and stationary applications.
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