RX8Club.com - 5th gasoline-hydrogen powered RX-8 Hydrogen RE car

With this new technology, as stated in http://star-motoring.com/blog/permalink.asp?id=27

Photo is in the link above

Was wondering if it affects the overall performance of the car and fuel saving?

Environmental friendly RX8
Posted by: Hong Boon How

MAZDA Motor Corp has delivered its fifth gasoline-hydrogen powered RX-8 Hydrogen RE car to the Yamaguchi Prefecture government for testing, indicating that vehicles operating on renewable energy are getting closer to commercial reality.

Fast and friendly

The dual-fuelled vehicle runs either on gasoline or hydrogen with a flick of a switch.

This RX8 sports car featuring an unique hybrid rotary engine technology is as part of Mazda's effort to promote an environmentally friendly motoring society.

To date, Mazda has supplied one RX-8 Hydrogen RE each to two private companies as well as the Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima City government authorities in Japan.

The four cars leased so far have been used in both special events and for daily operations.

The RX-8 Hydrogen RE that was handed over to Yamaguchi Prefecture was in-line with Mazda’s plan to lease around ten vehicles to local governments or energy-related industries by the end of 2006.

It attained approval to test the vehicle on public roads in Japan from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in October 2004, and began leasing in February this year.

Some of Mazda’s major facilities, like the Hofu plant and Mine Proving Ground, are located in Yamaguchi prefecture.

"Accordingly, we are very pleased to be working together with the Yamaguchi prefecture government authorities to further the promise of the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE and that they have introduced this vehicle into service,” said Mazda’s Executive Vice President in charge of corporate liaison and purchasing, Mutsumi Fujiwara.

“In the years ahead, we will further our efforts in environmental technologies as it is a responsibility of automakers like Mazda,” he said.