ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, January 7, 1997               TAG: 9701070078
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-6  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: DETROIT
SOURCE: Associated Press

CHRYSLER BREAKTHROUGH MAY SPEED UP ELECTRIC CAR'S ARRIVAL

THE CAR is expected to be at least 50 percent more fuel-efficient and 90 percent cleaner than a regular automobile.

Chrysler Corp. on Monday announced a major development in the search for a practical, long-range electric car - one that relies on inexpensive, low-grade gasoline instead of batteries.

Yes, a gasoline-powered electric car. What makes it possible is the development of a way to extract hydrogen from gasoline while the car is being driven.

It's called ``fuel cell'' technology. A fuel cell is a device that produces electricity from a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The hang-up for automotive use has been how to get and store the hydrogen efficiently and inexpensively.

``We believe hydrogen needs to be processed from gasoline on board vehicles because hydrogen isn't a practical fuel choice today,'' said Francois Castaing, Chrysler vice president of vehicle engineering. ``Simply put, there are not any filling stations supplying it to a mass market.''

In Chrysler's system, a platinum catalyst and an on-board fuel processor break down the gasoline into hydrogen and water. The hydrogen is used by a series of fuel cells to produce enough electricity to power the car's drive motors, air conditioner and other equipment.

Chrysler says the development will cut 10 years from the time it will take to create a practical prototype of a fuel-cell car. The No.3 domestic automaker says it hopes to have a prototype as soon as 2005.

The car is expected to be at least 50 percent more fuel-efficient and 90 percent cleaner than a modern, gasoline-powered internal combustion engine, Chrysler advanced technologies specialist Christopher Borroni-Bird told a news conference at the North American International Auto Show.

Fuel-cell technology was developed for use in spacecraft, but problems in supplying and storing hydrogen have hampered plans to use it for cars. Hydrogen must be highly compressed, and the tanks are heavy and costly.

Developing a practical system to extract hydrogen from gasoline would eliminate those problems, Castaing said.

``People will still refuel their vehicles the same way they always have, and the gas tanks on their vehicles may actually be smaller than they are today,'' Castaing said.

Fuel-cell systems could generate 80 miles a gallon, are quieter and have fewer moving parts than conventional engines, Borroni-Bird said.

But critics say Chrysler's system is no solution because it would still rely on gasoline, a nonrenewable fossil fuel.

Chrysler spokesman Scott Fosgard said fuel-cell electrics could run on any available liquid fuel, including methane and alcohol.

LENGTH: Medium:   62 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Visitors check out a Dodge Copperhead, one of five 
          concept cars unveiled by Chrysler at the North American 
          International Auto Show in Detroit. Also revealed but not shown here
          was a fuel cell that Chrysler says will convert gasoline into a more
          efficient hydrogen fuel. color.