Honda Looks To Follow GM By Fueling Hydrogen Hopes With Hollywood Hype

Honda's hoping to snag some love from the Hollywood hype machine for their new green machine, the hydrogen fuel-cell-powered FCX Clarity. Honda's producing 200 of the fuel cell vehicles for distribution to celebrities and other Hollywood luminaries to build buzz for the 73 MPG technological wonder. True, these drivers may not need the fuel efficiency as they drive around with their poodles to pick up their grande skim latte, but whatever, they're influential. Wait a second — why does this sound so similar? More »

Toyota FCHV-adv Gets New Fuel Cell Hybrid System, Has Over 500 Mile Range

The Japanese government (who didn't have anything to do with Prius development) has given approval for domestic market leasing of Toyotas newest fuel cell hybrid, the FCHV-adv. We don't know if our assumed graphic update properly represents the new look of the updated FCHV, but the updated goodies under hood and better regenerative braking gives the new zero-emissions Highlander a total range of 516 miles. Wait, that's actually pretty damn impressive. Where do we sign up for the sports car version? [ Yahoo News]

GM Says Challenge X Is The Future, We Say We Want It Now

Looking at the array of biodiesel hybrids, ethanol hydrogen hybrids and fuel cells on display in Central Park this morning, the impression we got was GM is looking to these technologies as the future. All we could think was how much they should be the present. You see, this wasn't a display of pie-in-the-sky concepts or prototypes, but actual vehicles capable of competently carrying humans and all of them designed and built by students on a limited budget. If a couple of pubescent geeks still waiting for their first pocket protectors can put a functioning biodiesel hybrid on a driveway, why isn't GM doing so right now? More »

Virgin's Richard Branson Does GM In NYC?

Anyone know why the General's doing a press conference in NYC right now with Virgin Atlantic's Richard Branson? We've got someone there who's got a few quick camera phone shots for us — but even he's unsure what it's all about. All we've been able to glean from searching with Google our sources is it's some sort of environmental initiative between the two companies. We've included that AP brief in all it's brevity below the jump. What we've determined, AP notwithstanding, is Branson's new fleet of 787's will get Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Yes, those are the 75,000 lb thrust models. What does this have to do with GM? Well — something to do with fuel cells. We'll have more as it develops. UPDATE: It's all one big PR stunt — Virgin will use the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell Car as their VIP car at LAX. It's all about reducing our carbon footprint. Lame. We were totally hoping Branson was buying GM. As commenter graverobber put it, "Virgin Vauxhall any one?" More »

Hey Look! A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car You Can Actually Buy

Oh wait, it's just a toy. Even after the recent barrage of hydrogen fuel cell commercials from the biggies, you want to know who the real winner is? Corgi. Corgi is the manufacturer of the H2GO, a remote-control hydrogen fuel cell car. Maybe the big boy manufacturers should take a hint or two from Corgi—its product isn't too shabby, especially the refueling options. More »

Hyundai i-Blue Fuel Cell Car To Have North American Debut At Chicago Auto Show

We have confirmation from Hyundai that they'll be premiering the Hyundai i-Blue fuel cell concept at the Chicago Auto Show. This is the North American debut as the company already showed this particular concept in Frankfurt last year. What's interesting is that the company has promised to have a production ready version by 2012, but we just assumed that was for the Korean domestic market. Does mean that the company is planning on bringing it here? Or was it just a matter of not wanting to waste a perfectly good concept car? Only time will tell. More »

Holiday Gift Guide: Hydrogen Power Kit for your R/C Car

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Which Alternative Fuel Are You Most Excited About?

We've been talking an awful lot for the past few days about Honda's FCX Clarity. OK, fine — I've been talking a lot about it. Still, I filled up my car today to the tune of $3.56 a gallon — which is whack — and those numbers don't look like they are headed down any time soon. Oil is over $100 a barrel. The UN says that global warming is about to start torturing poor people. Game theorists are predicting that $7 a gas will lead to the end of society as we know it. That said, what are you putting your faith into? Is internal combustion still the way to go? Batteries? Alien tech? Bicycles? What? I've swallowed the Clarity Kool-Aid, just so you all know. Go Hindenburg.

The Best Way to Refuel Your FCX Clarity

You're going to want a Honda Home Energy Station IV if you're going to be tooling around town in your new Clarity fuel cell vehicle, lest you should have to fill up at a community hydrogen station like a commoner. This trick station hooks up to your home's natural gas supply and not only produces hydrogen for your FCV, but also heating and electricity for your home. The system provides a reduction in emissions and energy use by utilizing gas purification and power generation in one unit. Like all good things, this is still an experimental project. Press release below: More »

Fuel-Cell Company to Sell Auto Fuel-Cell Business

Ballard Power Systems Inc. has been at the forefront of hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which means that the company has done a lot of research but hasn't made real money. Said one research analyst, the automotive fuel-cell sector has been a "black hole" for cash. The company tried to set themselves up to be the technological provider when the fuel cells took off, but that hasn't happened yet. It's not a complete loss as there are some buyers interested. More »

Hindenberg Anyone? GM Offers Free Fuel-Cell Cars to Consumers

Once again taking the free sample approach, the company that killed the electric car has decided to give 1,000 drivers the chance to drive the hydrogen-powered Equinox SUV's for three months. The company will also offer free hydrogen services (because who has hydrogen lying around the house?). The catch, other than having to be a guinea pig for GM researchers, you have to live in suburban LA, New York or Washington, D.C. to be a part of the program. You'll also probably have to sign a form that says you won't sue if the truck explodes. Go here to see if you're eligible. [Conde Nast Traveler]

Tokyo Motor Show: Fuel Cell Powered Suzuki Crosscage Revealed

There you have it folks, proof that if you lock engineers in a room with a bag of LSD, it's possible for amazing things to happen. Somehow the magicians at Suzuki managed to cram an entire fuel cell system into the skeletal frame of the Suzuki Crosscage. It is a bit on the awkward-looking side. But it's the tech rather than the looks that are the main feature here. This strikes a blow for alternative alternative power systems everywhere (ie. kitten dreams) More »

Suzuki Crosscage Concept Hybrid Thing

The Suzuki Crosscage, scheduled for an appearance at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show, may be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, or high pressure air, possibly fuzzy kitten dreams - who knows. Details are light, but it does have a monoshock up front though, and that's pretty radical. We'll be following up on this one since it's got super engineering potential written all over it.

Paging Mr. DiCaprio: GM Places Largest Fuel-Cell Fleet Into The Hands of Celebs, Others

Just over a year ago, we told you about General Motors' plan to put 100 fuel-cell vehicles on the road by the end of 2007. It appears GM still plans to meet that goal, as they recently reiterated the claim at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Under the name "Project Driveway," Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicles were to be delivered to those with eco cred and who live near a hydrogen refueling center in the US, Germany, Japan, China and South Korea. GM says most of the recipients were influencers like government officials, celebrities and the military. Apparently GM will also give some of the vehicles to the public, with recipients picked from a pool of online applicants. Details on where or how to sign up, however, don't appear to exist. With the 100 vehicles, GM claims it'll have the largest fuel-cell fleet on the road, but there's no need to worry about another EV1 incident — these things only have a shelf life of 50,000 miles. We're offering a hearty pat on the back to the reader who guesses which American celeb will show up with one first. [BBC]

Hyundai's Hydrogen Powered i-Blue Concept Revealed Before Frankfurt Auto Show

Our friends from down under at Motor Authority have the scoop on what looks to be a concept car Hyundai's planning on officially revealing at the Frankfurt Auto Show in a couple of weeks. It's called the i-Blue and it's apparently a hydrogen powered concept crossover that's supposedly also using Hyundai's new third-gen fuel cell tech. Huh...we didn't even know about the first two. [via MotorAuthority]

Ford Goes Over 200 mph in Fuel Cell Fusion, Sets Speed Record of One

Ford's surpassed the double-century mark, and joined the Bonneville 200-mph club, in its Hydrogen 999 fuel-cell-powered Ford Fusion. It's an industry first, considering other automakers' hydrogen fuel-cell projects have eschewed speed accrual for the message of environmental correctness. Why not do both, Ford says with the 999 project, which we're just fine with us old salts. The car was worked up with The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing, and was piloted by Bonneville vet Rick Byrnes, who's also a retired powertrain engineer with the blue oval bunch. More »

Water Fuel Cells Move Closer To Reality

A group developing Water Fuel Cell technology claims to be close to completing a fully functioning prototype. Of all the conspiracy theories on the Internet, the one surrounding Stanley Meyer's inventions and death is one of the most well known. Having purportedly developed a Water Fuel Cell - a perpetual motion device capable of extracting power from water by separating the hydrogen and oxygen, then combusting the two, thus reforming water - his work was largely ignored right up to his supposed murder in 1997. Last month, the two patents for this technology moved into the public domain and the Water Fuel Cell Open Source Project was set up to investigate and develop them. A video of Meyer's Water Fuel Cell car follows the jump. More »

Chevy Sequel To Cross New York, Go Transcontinental Next?

We'd be remiss if we forgot to mention that the fuel cell powered Chevy Sequel is making a trip across the state of New York right now to become the first vehicle to travel 300 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. True, a similar feat can be accomplished with an Aveo and a full tank of gas — but yay for attempting to do it in a way that pushes energy independence. The General just needs to be careful not to get the fuel economy too high, or else they'll get Lisa Nowak someone trying to snag one to make some kind of attempt at a transcontinental trip once you guys are done with it in New York. – Ray Wert More »

300+ MPH Buckeye Bullet Hydrogen Fuel Cell Streamliner

A group of Ohio State University students are hoping to break the 300 mile per hour mark at Speed Week this August - using hydrogen. The Buckeye Bullet 2 will make history as first hydrogen fuel cell land speed streamliner to hit the long black line. The Buckeye Bullet 1 was the first electric vehicle to break the 300 mph mark, and currently holds a record of 315 mph. The team plans on success using a 700 horsepower electric motor and lessons learned from the first time around. No word on whether or not this type of fuel cell vehicle will be allowed on California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's hydrogen highway. – Mike Bumbeck More »

Honda Hydrogen FCX Coming in 2008!

We told you about Honda's impending FCX Concept by at the Los Angeles Auto Show and how they wanted to start selling it here by 2008. Well guess what? They weren't fooling. The new and improved Hindenburg hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will be hitting both our shores and Japan in 2008. Where do you get the hydrogen? That's the beauty part – anywhere. Ben Knight, Honda's vice president of research in the Americas says that hydrogen can, "be derived from a broad range of sources, including methane or natural gas, bio-mass and renewable sources like solar or wind." They're also toying with a home hydrogen energy generation station that runs off natural gas. Just plumb it into the same line as the Bar-B-Q. Which would be pretty cool. But forget the fact that the new CXF "Concept" has a 270-mile range and can hit 100 mph, the real story is what Steve Ellis, Honda's manager of fuel cell vehicle marketing said;

We're calling this the 'FCX Concept' but I can assure you it is not just some far out, pie-in-the-sky exercise in what may or may not come to fruition some day in the distant future. It will be positioned as the ultimate environmental badge of honor for our customers.

Sounds like maybe the number two super best automaker from the land of the rising sun's coming for the number one super best...and maybe the cache of their little Prius, too. – Ray Wert More »

Shanghai Auto Show: GM Reveals Volt Concept Version 2.0 — This Time It's Hydrogen-Powered!

Despite the addition of a hydrogen fuel cell in this new variant of the Chevy Volt concept car (now with E-Flex!) that provides up to "300 miles of petroleum- and emissions-free electric driving" — it still ain't going nowhere. The problem with version 2.0 is the same as the problem with version 1.0 — the batteries just don't have the capacity. So consequently the "300 mile range" in the new E-Flex system or the "640 mile range" from the original Volt are still nothing more than "conceptual." But what do we expect from a concept vehicle anyway — reality? Full press release after the jump and picture gallery from the press reveal in Shanghai below. – Ray Wert More »

Retrofit Your R/C Car to Run on Hydrogen!

Holy Castle Bravo test, Dr. Teller! Horizon Fuel Cell, whose H-Racer ready-to-run R/C car we told you about moons and moons ago, has come up with a fuel cell retrofit kit for Tamiya's TT-01 chassis. The kit also comes with some sort of futuristic body, but we're thinking that we'd resurrect that old '67 GTO body we stuck on our Tamiya Fox back in the '80s and go the kandy-kolor-brush-painted-by-a-preteen route. Either way, Horizon's setup allows uninterrupted, Dead Pool-style 1/10-scale hoonage for up to 70 minutes. Whoomp. – Davey G. Johnson More »

Geneva Next Year: Morgan LifeCar Fuel-Cell Concept Coming in 2008

Morgan, the UK builder of great traditional roadsters with wooden subframes, released more info about its new bid for emissions-free motoring. As part of the company's ongoing LifeCar project, first announced in 2005, Morgan's planning to roll out a hydrogen fuel-cell concept car at the 2008 Geneva show. It's a major joint effort, with help from Oscar Automotive, Cranfield University, QinetiQ, Oxford University and Linde. A rendering of the concept shows a car with design tropes of the Aero 8 combined with 1930s-era streamlining. No word on a roadster model, but how could they not? – Mike Spinelli More »

Nissan Rolls Out First Fuel Cell Car-For-Hire

If you're sans-car in Japan and want to get from A to B in green style, look no further than the X. Nissan has given one of their hydrogen fuel cell-powered X-Trails to Kanagawa Toshi Kotsu, a major chauffeured car operator. The X-Trial features a Nissan fuel cell stack/lithium ion battery combo that provides performance comparable with the gas model. This is all part of Nissan's plan to introduce consumers to the practical use of fuel cell vehicles, much like Ford and GM are introducing hybrid cabs to major markets. – Matt Hardigree More »

Washington Wakes Up A Little: Senate, House Pissed At Bush Regime for Meddling With Climate Scientists

You ever stop and think how funny Republicans are? Their favorite president is an actor, their favorite scientist is a fiction writer and Rush Limbaugh is a big, fat, dope-addicted, impotent idiot. I mean hypocrite. Anyhow, turns out that Bush and his gang have been (gasp) pressuring federal scientists to "downplay" the threat of global warming. Well informed folks everywhere have known about this muzzling of science for a while, but now the Congress is actually fact finding. Aside from 43% of the scientists surveyed reporting that Administration goons had edited their work so as to change the meaning of their findings, check out this nugget from Rep. Waxman; More »

Spy Photos: Ford Edge HySeries Hybrid

One frequently overlooked tech story from the Detroit show — other than the Jeep waterfall — was Ford's HySeries fuel-cell hybrid system, which powered the company's Airstream van concept. Rather than calling on the cell to power the all-EV car's electric motor directly, like most hydrogen vehicles, this system uses it only to top off the lithium-ion batteries that provide juice. Ford's already ported the hybrid drive, which includes a plug-in function, to an Edge crossover, which showed up on the streets of DC ahead of the city's auto show this week. As these shots indicate, local pols likely got to see where went the Department of Energy grant, with which Ford developed it. – Mike Spinelli More »

PLATINUM und GOLD! Scientists Blind With Fuel-Cell Catalyst Stabilization Techonolgy

Given no time to make no apologies, mighty men of science have solved a problem in fuel-cell catalysts that made stop-and-go driving somewhat of a problem. While platinum is the most efficient medium for accelerating electrochemical reactions in a hydrogen power unit, it has the unfortunate tendency to dissolve during use. How'd they solve the problem? Boffins at U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory figured out that by adding gold clusters to the platinum, the disslution issue was resolved. Once we find a girlfriend, we're totally buying her a fuel cell for our anniversary. – Davey G. Johnson More »

Renault Announces Green Cars by 2010

Carlos the Jackalope's minions have announced plans to have a hybrid fuel-cell vehicle on European roads in 2010. Designed primarily as a city car, the runabout will feature a pack of lithium-ion cells recharged via regenerative braking. Also, the Trafic and Master vans will go the way of GM's large vehicles and run on E85 for the 2007 model year. A flex-fuel Megane is also in the works, and by 2009, half of the vehicles the company sells will be E85 capable. – Davey G. Johnson More »

Maybe Next Year: Hydrogen Fuel Cell RC Car Coming After the Holidays

This may be a tease, since it's not likely Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies's newest hydrogen fuel cell miniature will be available for the holidays (there's a waiting list). But the company's new RC car, the latest in its expanding H-Racer line, certainly is due out in early 2007. The original model was recently named one of the Best Inventions of 2006 by Time magazine, and is now the best selling fuel cell product in the world. No word on price, but think low three figures. – Mike Spinelli More »

LA Auto Show Still Breaking: Honda Reinvents the Hindenburg; FCX Concept Becomes Reality in 2008

Honda may in fact be just as highly precise as the boys from Stuttgart, but they don't brag about it. Instead, they flaunt their massive levels of high-efficiency. So highly efficient in fact, that North American Senior Veep John Mendel mentioned it four times. Which isn't very efficient. Luckily for the "energy diversity" crowd out there, the FCX Concept is. Featuring a fuel cell stack that is 20% smaller, 30% lighter yet 14kW more Bruce than the current Honda hydrogen stack. And no, we have no clue what a kW is either. Though total output is rated at 127hp. Most coolest is that the FCX has an auxiliary "high-efficiency" lithium ion battery, which when combined with the smaller, buffer stack equals maximum hydrogen hoonage potential. More »

Hydrogen Whosits: Ford to Show Fuel-Cell Explorer in Los Angeles

Can Ford rewire the brains of Californians to associate SUVs with environmental friendliness? Maybe (and maybe Governor Arnold will take a side job as a French chambermaid). Nonetheless, later this week at the Los Angeles auto show, Ford will show off a new fuel-cell powered SUV it hopes will strengthen its hand in the alternative energy baccarat game. It's the Explorer TDV-2, with electric all-wheel drive and a 350-mile range per hydrogen fill-up. The prototype's been driven 17,000 miles, including 1,556 miles in a 24-hour period (jeez, those hydrogen filling stations sure are far apart). It's the latest in Ford's hydrogen-fueled fleet that includes 30 fuel-cell Focus test models and an accountant named Ted who works in the company's debt-maintenance division. – Mike Spinelli More »

Fuel Sell: GM to Test Market Hydrogen-Fueled Chevrolet Equinox Models

The General answered BMW's media win last week with a hydrogen-car announcement of its own, yesterday. Chevrolet is launching a fleet of 100 Equinox fuel cell vehicles in 2007, creating what the company says is the world's largest hydrogen-powered fuel cell fleet. The SUVs will find homes with customers in California, the New York metro area and Washington, DC. It's all part of something GM calls "project driveway," which may or may not refer to the place such SUVs will be parked as their drivers search for somewhere to fuel up. Click through for press materials. More »

A Whole Different Kind of Fuelie: GM's Sequel to Be a Chevrolet

Chevrolet aficionados may remember the first fuelies as having nothing at all to do with fuel cells. Now, GM has decided to brand its Sequel hydrogen-electric SUV as a protocar of the people — a plebean Chevy rather than a relatively rarified Cadillac or Saab. The announcement comes at the head of a major media push that will include a press driving event in California today. We've got a previous engagement to attend to (hmm, Pert or Johnson's Baby Shampoo?), so we can't make it, but the boys who travel the road that's none so straight will be there to report back on who's wearing what. More »

Honda to Introduce Updated Fuel-Cell Concept in Los Angeles

Just months after Honda announced it's putting a fuel-cell sedan into limited production by decade's end, the company will show off the next-generation of the system at this year's Los Angeles auto show, according to Edmunds Inside Line. The updated fuelie rig won't be getting a new concept car to wrap it in — it'll be installed in the same FCX sedan Honda showed off at the Tokyo show last fall. Still, it will likely be closer to the hydrogen system powering the production FCX, which will be available via short-term lease to fleet users. No word yet on which celebs will arrive at the 2010 Oscars in one. More »

Gentlemen, Boot up Your Motor Control Modules: The Formula Zero Fuel Cell Go Kart and Race Circut

What will go-kart lovers do when the world goes hydrogen-car mad? According to one Dutch concern, they'll just trade in their two- or four-stroke engines for a fuel cell, hydrogen tank and electric motors. The company's built several incarnations of said karts and is promoting a new racing class, dubbed Formula Zero (for zero emissions), by way of a traveling race-circus of sorts. Got a county fair (albiet a European county) in need of some eco-racing action? They'll show up with a 600-meter racetrack, seating for 1,500, hospitality, pits, hydrogen generation and timing facilities for a full-on kart race. The only thing missing is the roar of internal-combustion engines and the smell of exhaust. But who needs those time-honored racing staples anyway. This may take some getting used to. More »

Water Engine for Real? Scientists Say H20-to-Hydrogen System Could Be Ready by Decade's End

In David Mamet's "The Water Engine," an amateur inventor derives an engine that runs on water, with which he plans to become rich and change the world. Too bad he's the only one in the whole play — including the audience — who doesn't know how forces beyond his control will conspire to extinguish his dream. Barring the same fate, a team of scientists from Minnesota University and Weizmann Institute of Science are working up a fuel-cell car that can crack its own hydrogen from a tank of water. More »

SiliValley to Sacto on Alternative Energy: AAA's Greenlight Initiative Rally

"Fahr up that there fuel-cell bus, Earl — we'll be tappin' the keg on the banks of the 'Merican River tonight!" A biodiesel Beetle, a plug-in Prius and yes, a fuel-cell-powered AC Transit bus that also features hybrid-style regenerative braking all made the trek from Santa Clara, in the heart of Silicon Valley to Sacramento to raise awareness of alternative fuel options for the nation's fleet of vehicles. Most interesting to us is the hydrogen-powered public bus, which can run 350 miles before refueling (one of the nation's few hydrogen filling stations is in Richmond, CA, which is served by AC Transit, and Chevron has just built a facility in Oakland). No word, however, on if the bus' driver did indeed tap a keg on the riverbank that night. More »