Morgan launches hydrogen-fuelled sports car

Legendary sports car manufacturer Morgan is set to unveil a zero-emissions sportscar at the Geneva Motor Show which begins today.

LifeCar, a fuel cell powered concept car that does 0-60mph in seven seconds, has an estimated range of 200 miles, weighs just 700kg and is claimed to be three times more energy efficient than any other vehicle of its type.

Based on the Morgan Aero Eight, the vehicle is the result of a £1.9m, two and half year project funded jointly by the government and a consortium that includes Morgan, Qinetiq, and industrial gas specialist BOC Linde.

The car uses a fuel cell to power four separate electric wheel-motors. This is backed up by a series of ultracapacitors that are charged by a regenerative braking system and release their energy when the car is accelerating. This enables the use of a much smaller fuel cell than is traditionally regarded as necessary.