Nissan North America announced the first fuel cell vehicle named X-TRAIL that uses hydrogen fuel to power its engine. The Nissan X-TRAIL FCV is based on the X-TRAIL SUV, which is already available in Mexico, Japan and Europe. The X-TRAIL is fitted with a compact Lithium-ion battery and a high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder. Performance is close to that of a similarly sized internal combustion engine-based vehicle. Versions of this generation X-TRAIL FCV are capable of speeds in excess of 95 miles per hour, and a cruising range of up to 300 miles.
In addition to the current generation X-TRAIL FCV, the future fuel cell in testing is about 25 percent smaller than the current model and will be less expensive to build, and it is currently in testing at the new Fuel Cell Laboratory at the Nissan Technical Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The new lab will support other global Nissan research centers and will work with suppliers and universities on various related fuel cell projects.
The first company to lease this vehicle is the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Sacramento. The lease is one year with an option for two additional years if everything works out well.
