Mazda's 15-year quest for hydrogen vehicles
The Hydrogen Economy. How many times have we heard that this futuristic nirvana is coming? And why is it always 15-20 years from today? It'll be great when the HE finally gets here and provides clean energy to everyone, but who knows when (or how) the serious technological hurdles will be overcome. While we wait (some more), here's a look at how Mazda spent the past 15 years gearing up for hydrogen vehicles.
Mazda introduced their first hydrogen prototype in 1991 at the Tokyo Motor Show. This vehicle, called the HR-X, was powered by a hydrogen-powered rotary engine. Mazda is still working on putting rotary engines into cars, but is also working, like other automakers, on hydrogen fuel cells. The company's latest hydrogen prototype, the RX-8 Hydrogen RE concept car, was presented at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. The RX-8 Hydrogen RE is currently being leased (and is not affected by the recent RX-8 recall) to companies and local governments in Japan for 420,000 yen a month (about 3,600 US$ or 2,860 Euros). Mazda, like Ford, believes using hydrogen internal combustion engines are the right next step before we get to hydrogen fuel cells. Mazda says it considers hydrogen well-suited for rotary engines, and the company's long experience with rotary engines means it will lead the pack in introducing hydrogen engines to the market.
[Source: Fullboost.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Robert Brodrecht 3:41PM (8/27/2006)
I don't know if this is common knowledge or not, but here goes anyway. Mazda considers the rotary engine well suited for hydrogen combustion because fuel is combusted on a completely different side of the engine from where the fuel enters the engine. In a piston engine, fuel enters and combusts at the same spot. That means that the fuel mixture is subjected to high heat levels before combustion. This isn't a problem for gasoline, but there are worries that hydrogen might combust upon contacting the extremely hot chamber. So, by separating the two, the chance of the hydrogen burning prematurely are reduced.
I can't find the original article I read on it, but this article hits on some of the points (and gives an honest review of the hydrogen fueled RX-8):
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/print.php?sid=116
If you want more info on the rotary engine, check out http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.com/
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Tony Belding 8:56AM (8/28/2006)
Do we even want hydrogen cars? Even if the storage problem can be solved (that's a big if -- just look at the GM Sequel's huge 10,000 PSI tanks!), and given the projected inefficiencies of making hydrogen, and difficulties of handling it, plus the need to visit filling stations regularly. . . I'd much prefer to have a battery-electric car. And furthermore, battery technology is not perpetually 15-20 years in the future; Li-ion cells are already skirting the edges of practicality for cars.
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Greg Hopwood 3:16AM (9/17/2007)
RE Robert - "projected inefficiencies of making hydrogen" which are considerably less than thermal cracking of crude oil.
Separation of H2O into H2 AND O requires a minimum of 1.7 volts with a return of 1.23 volts. Thus 0.47 volts consumed. Process is quicker if hot water is used, and quicker again if brine is the source material. Heat is a consequence of the process, not a requirement.
Thermal cracking of crude oil requires heating the oil to near boiling point at 600 degrees Centergade [water boils at 100 degrees Centergrade] which can be achieved with gas burners but usually is done with large electric resistors acting as heaters which consume very large volumes of electricity.
The argument that extracting hydrogen from water is more energy intensive or consumptive is an oil industry propegated fallacy which isn't even logical.
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