Volkswagen Group unveils hydrogen-powered Golf Estate and Passat at LA motor show

The Volkswagen Group has joined a number of car makers showcasing their fuel cell technology at this week’s Los Angeles Motor Show.

The firm has unveiled a new hydrogen-powered Golf Estate Hymotion along with a related Passat Hymotion, both of which employ similar zero emission low temperature proton exchange membrane (LT PEM) propulsion systems.

Following on from petrol, diesel, natural gas, petrol-electric hybrid and pure electric versions of the Golf, the new Hymotion previews a sixth propulsion system for Europe’s top selling model. 

Such a solution provides Volkswagen with a practical alternative to the likes of the new hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai.

The fuel cell stack used by the Golf Estate Hymotion and Passat Hymotion has been developed in-house by the Volkswagen Group.

In the former it is used to create electricity that is used to power the same 134bhp electric motor used by the e-Golf. 

Further electrical power is sourced from a lithium ion battery, which is used to store kinetic energy produced on periods of trailing throttle and under braking and then used during the start-up phase and as a booster under acceleration.

While it is yet to confirm the kerb weight of its new fuel cell vehicle, Volkswagen quotes a 0-100kph time of 10.0sec for the front-wheel drive Golf Estate Hymotion.

Hydrogen used to power the fuel cell is stored in specially developed carbonfibre tanks mounted within the floor of the Golf Estate Hymotion’s MQB platform at a pressure of 700bar. 

Volkswagen has not confirmed the capacity of the tanks but says they can be filled in just three minutes to provide a zero emission range of 310 miles (496km) – or some 10 miles (16km) more than Toyota claims for the Mirai.

The sole emissions created by the Golf Estate Hymotion during its cold combustion process is hydrogen and oxygen – or pure water vapour. Also on display is Audi's own hydrogen-powered A7 h-tron.