Morgan unites wood frames and fuel cells

More traditionally British than warm beer and toad in the hole, quirky sportscar maker Morgan has announced its intention to unveil a zero-emissions fuel-cell car at next year's Geneva motor show.

Company boss Charles Morgan says the Morgan Life Car -- a hydrogen-fuelled, zero-emissions car -- will be built using the marque's trademark wooden-framed body and retain the fun-to-drive characteristics of its conventionally powered counterparts.

Developed in partnership with hi-tech specialists including Cranfield University, QinetiQ, Oxford University, Linde AG and the Open Source Car Project (OSCar), the Life Car will be ultra-light and word has it that it will have a touring range of about 320kmh.

Morgan has released only an artist's impression for now, and the rendering shows a car with the familiar bulging eyes and vertical grille of models such as the Aero 8, but it has a much more streamlined look, thanks to faired-in wheels and smooth contours.

Euro sources suggest the Life Car will weigh 600kg and will be driven by in-wheel electric motors and these, in turn, will also act as the brakes. In addition, they'll capture the energy lost under braking and feed it back into the system when required.

"The real challenge is to design and build a car that is fun to drive -- a proper sports car," said Charles Morgan.

"The use of ultra capacitors to store the surplus energy and then use this for acceleration and braking does promise a dynamic ride, especially when combined with our ultra light chassis.

"The paring of weight to a minimum is our strength, and allows a much smaller fuel cell than conventionally thought necessary. This gives energy and yet more weight savings."

The Morgan Life Car will be the fruit of a two-and-a half-year development program costing around $4.63 million.

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