zoom44

http://www.askaprice.com/torque-arti...n_RE&item=1975

One of our forum members was saying the other day how mazda "had gone suspiciously quiet" over the Hydrogen8. Hope this puts that idea to rest.

Winfree

Ran into a guy yesterday who works at a hydrogen production plant - says they use natural gas and steam - produce it from petroleum products - expensive but there is a developing market - says it will make traffic accidents more interesting and will cost like smoke....Still, if you can generate enough hydrogen at home using a solar cell, might really be worth it....

juanjux

110 liters Hidrogen storage capacity.

100 kms autonomy running on hidrogen.

That's about 2mpg, and you tough consumption on gas was bad!

rotarygod

I'm just going to refrain from saying how I really feel about hydrogen at this point in automotive history. I will admit that it has potential but I'll leave it at that.

Aseras

hydrogen needs a better storage system... just like batteries. might as well use batteries for a 100 mile range or less

rotarygod

That's a part of it although there is already hope for that. My concern is with how wussie an engine is in the power department when running on hydrogen.

BlueSky

Yeah screw hydrogen. I want electric cars.

zoom44

mazda's history of Hydrogen vehicle developement

http://rotarynews.com/node/view/810

Razz1

They had one here in the states for years, they are waiting for re-fill stations in USA.

Sephiroth

I don't like the electric car built by tesla for 1 reason, it has only 2 gears! Whats the difference between that and an automatic?

It appears as though Mazda is way ahead of everyone else when it comes to Hydrogen cars. Any idea what everyone else is doing?

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

Have you all read this?
Mazda5
Rotary powered ,,Gas,Hydrogen and Electric all in one.

rotarygod

Let's see, 210 hp in gasoline mode and 109 hp in hydrogen mode. I still don't see the benefit or why people are excited about it.

BlueSky

Electric cars are soooo much more viable. They just need to make one with a 6-speed. Those motors rev up to 13500rpm (on the tesla) why only a 2-speed?

dillsrotary

if the hydrogen was combined with pure O2 in the combustion then some power would appear, but just normal atmosphere won't yield enough 02 per four hydrogen atoms, you'll waste a ton.

mtrevino

I think it's because there's two schools of thought concerning upcoming alternative engines and energy sources. 1) cleaner burning with efficiency and 2) costs less than gasoline.

Those seem to be the driving factors for alternative fuels and engines, I'm sure people are thinking about performance (ala that crazy fast electric car), but no one buys a hybrid because "it goes like stink."

I believe the next generation of cars will have two or more power sources to bring the zoom zoom back into the driving picture (a hyrdrogen engine + electic engine as an example), along with the cleaner and cheaper route. Unless until someone thinks up of the Wonder Engine that does it all and it happens to be a miracle of engineering.

rotarygod

I'm actually not a fan of alternative fuels from an environmental standpoint. I think the easiest solution would be to rid the world of environmentalists as they don't even like the solutions to their problems. I only care about performance and the cost of operating it which includes not only fuel costs but also maintenance costs. When someone figures out a way to make hydrogen a viable powerful energy source that is practical, 2 things which have not been done by anyone anywhere ever, then I'll take a look at it. Until then, even ethanol is a better long term solution and it isn't by any means. We should be pursuing diesel technology instead. Even on the rotary.

zoom44

see fred that's why some of us are excited by this to get to "make hydrogen a viable powerful energy source tht is practical" you actually have to have people making steps in that direction. Here is someone doing just that- making steps. they have H cars running on the street in japan and lease as fleeet vehicles to 2 or 3 companies. now they have introduced it to another country who is actually building infrastructure(fueling stations) to support it.

and with many other countries already building infrastructure as well ( http://www.fuel-cell-bus-club.com/in...ub&tid=1&pid=2 ) its an excellent advance towards the goal. its not a hail mary into the endzone. but its good yardage and a first down.

Steakboy42

I want a car that runs on hopes and dreams...

and potato chips

mmm... mesquite BBQ

-Steakboy

rotarygod

I never said that I didn't se potential in it. It's just in the very early stages of development right now and needs tons more work to be viable. I'll take a look at it again in about 25 years when the performance is past the Model T stage of development.

zoom44

ah, see, i prefer the journey

rotarygod

Here's a nice 6.8L supercharged V10 wuss of a powerplant running on hydrogen.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...egins_pro.html

juanjux

Over my cold dead body. Hydrogen is very interesting for the future, it can contain 3 times de energy the gas does, on the same volume, it's just the technology to use this energy efficiently what is not yet there.

DarkBrew

We have to get away from the use of carbon based fuels in order to halt global warming due to CO2 but hydrogen has a huge problem. Generating hydrogen requires power, usually electricity, which can generate as much CO2 as a gasoline powered car would in the first place! Generation of hydrogen needs a breakthrough it's to become an environmental positive.
While I'm on my soapbox... Calling hybrids and electrics environmentally friendly ignores the issues of battery disposal and the same 'where is your electricity comming from' questions.
End of rant.

juanjux

You don't generate as nearly as many CO2 using nuclear technology to provide the electricity to generate the hydrogen. Oh wait, environmentalists ... on this one I'm with rotarygod, we should get rid or ignore them.

DarkBrew

I could have gone on about alternatives to carbon based power such as hydroelectric (which requires dams across major rivers or redirection of entire watersheads), nuclear (Expensive technology, Radioactive by-products that are dangerous and still don't have a safe disposal methodology, and a represent a terrorist target), or you can put large wind generators everywhere. People won't accept any of these technologies in their own back yard. Fact is that most electricity is generated using coal, oil or natural gas.

Side note: Why people think that a coal plant near their house is better for them than a nuclear plant is hard to say.