Mazda hydrogen hybrids
7 October 2005 by Hydrogen PowerMazda has introduced several new hybrid vehicles at the Tokyo auto show, however, the difference is the rotary engines are set up to run on either gasoline or hydrogen. The Premacy minivan is a gasoline/ hydrogen/ electric hybrid vehicle. The hydrogen is contained in high pressure tanks and they are looking for a 124 mile range on hydrogen alone. The dual fuel RX-8 Hydrogen RE, is a hydrogen/gasoline RX8 rotary powered car. Hydrogen power alone gives it a 62 mile range and another 341 when it switches to gasoline. As to the RX8 RE:
Mazda vows to put it on the market through leases to selected customers in 2006. A handful of fuel cell cars now are being leased worldwide, usually at a lease price of 1 million yen, or $8,780 at current exchange rates, a month. Mazda pledges a price below that.
Mazda is making an interesting move here, using hydrogen in their rotary, not a fuel cell, as BMW is doing with their internal combustion engine as well. It shows hydrogen can be used in internal combustion engines, which has not been in doubt, however, range is short, supplies are scarce, storage is difficult and cost is high. Hydrogen in mobile applications will need to be in fuel cells, not internal combusion engines where gasoline wins in a walk.
via Autoweek
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