2007 Detroit Auto Show: Ford Airstream Concept

You will never see this concept on the road. Let’s repeat that: You will never see Ford’s Airstream Concept, powered by a plug-in hybrid hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain, on the road. Never. We’re impressed by the fact that the power plant is actually being tested in a Ford Edge prototype — why not show that off Ford? — but the overall package of this space-race-inspired crossover is plainly a fanciful daydream in sheet metal and asymmetric windows. 

The really intriguing — and confusing — part is the power plant. The hydrogen fuel cell is not the main source of power. The vehicle runs on an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries that you can plug in to recharge. The hydrogen fuel cell works as a generator to recharge the batteries when needed, presumably whenever you’re too far from a wall socket. There are no details about the range or how much hydrogen is needed or any of those practical matters.

Again, we’d love to see that plug-in hybrid hydrogen Edge! Until then, check out the radical airstream below — a true concept car.

Comments

The only part of the power plant that confuses me is the fact that the energy sources are connected serially as opposed to being in parallel. The future hydrogen cars that people talk about are powered by electric motors. A hybrid system like the one here may be a necessary intermediate step to make such cars a reality.