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Two hydrogen tanks exploded yesterday at an alternative fuel station near the Rochester airport that supplies fuel for GM. A gas station employee was treated for second-degree burns, flights were delayed, and Hindenburg jokes were made. [D&C via AutoBlog] More »
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Unlike the eight-hour charge cycles of electric cars, it takes only three minutes to refill the Mercedes B-Class F-CELL. Unlike cars that combust hydrogen, it emits only water. Even better — it'll reach the U.S. next year. More »
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The Riversimple is a hydrogen-powered city car with a radically different "open source" production and design model. If a company takes the design and improves on it they have to share it with everyone else. More »
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After Clarkson took the Tesla round the track, James May, Top Gear's Captain Slow, spent time with the Honda FCX Clarity, or, as he calls it, "The Most Important Car in 100 Years." More »
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Honda surprised the motoring world today with the release of the radical and futuristic Honda FC Sport, a three-seat Hydrogen-powered design study that hints at the future of Honda sports cars to come. Using the Honda V Flow fuel cell setup already found in the Honda FCX Clarity, the FC Sport is the supercar to the FCX's stately sedan. The stunning design is meant to invoke the concept of a high-performance, low-weight hydrogen sports car. Press release and more details below the jump. More »
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Standing out among the carbon fiber and large wheels at SEMA was the debut of the Ronn Motors Scorpion hydrogen-powered supercar. Built in Texas, this hydrogen vehicle isn't a fuel cell that converts hydrogen into electricity to power an electric motor. Instead, the Scorpion features a modified 3.5-liter Acura V6 that has hydrogen injected into it. Where does the hydrogen come from? Using a process similar to electrolysis, water is zapped with electricity in order to create a hydrogen gas that is then pumped into the engine. When the hydrogen is added to the V6, the claim is that the car will achieve 20-40% better fuel economy with lower emissions. More »
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Combining an alternative fuel with an alternative engine design, this hydrogen-powered rotary-engined Mazda RX-8 has hit the Norwegian roads, one of 30 of the RX-8s for use in Norway as commercial leases. The hydrogen RX-8s are part of a program directed towards making hydrogen-powered vehicles mainstream in the kingdom in an effort to reduce pollution. The only emission from the tailpipe of a hydrogen-powered vehicle is water vapor, and we're impressed these hydrogen-powered Mazdas are more than just vaporware. Press release after the jump. More »
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GM is partnering with the US Postal Service to place its fuel cell-powered Chevy Equinox into service in Irvine, California and other yet-to-be-identified locations. The idea is to put the fuel cell SUVs into heavy-use situations to help work out the development kinks. Not only that, but they'll be able to test the operation of the hydrogen filling station at UC Irvine. It's a cunning plan, and it makes sense, but they aren't getting one over on us. More »
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After successfully building a Hydrogen RX-8, Mazda has moved on to converting their Premacy van to run on the futuristic fuel. Powered by a newer version of their hydrogen rotary engine, the new vehicle gets a 40% increase in power, an increased range and now approval to test on public streets in Japan. Though we like the idea of hydrogen-fueled, rotary-powered van, we're a little disappointed that it didn't get the full dekotora treatment. A lip spoiler extending eight feet out in front of the van would clearly capture the public's imagination. Press release below the jump. More »
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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 »
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Proving that their Crosscage emits hot water instead of hot air, Suzuki just took their fuel cell-powered concept testing in Europe. Riding impressions are non-existent, but luckily for you, I've ridden the Intelligent Energy ENV that the Crosscage is based on. More »
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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 »
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There's apparently some competition for the Frozen Chevy Nova installation in our ongoing quest for the best piece of ice-based conceptual automotive art pieces. The latest entry comes from Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Elliasson, who has been one of our favorite artists since his The Weather Project at the Tate, which is maybe our favorite contemporary installation (take that FelixGonzalez-Torres). This one involved removing the shell of a BMW H2 racer and replacing it with reflective metal and then covering it with a fragile layer of ice. Said Elliasson "How do we give a tangible dimension to the fact that our engagement in the world has global consequences? How can we as consumers and creators of reality change the trajectory of transportation? Of moving? How can we put pressure on the car as an object?" We got to see Elliasson speak before an exhibit at the Menil in Houston and we can attest to him not being a completely insane foreign artist. Larger photo and press release below the jump. More »
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Sleeplessly cramming hour after hour for organic chemistry in college has proven to have been a complete waste of time, cause we can't understand how the newly unveiled Oorja Protonics Methanol Fuel Cell works. "Methanol you say?" Yes, the alcohol with one less carbon atom is now making news as a possible fuel of the future. Seems these new fuel cells are two to tentimes more powerful than previous methanol fuel cells, and it's only a matter of time before the Envirocrats start using "Methanol Fuel Cell" as their latest buzz word. Expect bills in Congress, concept cars, hippy rallys and pogo sticks which tout methanol fuel cells any time now. [Via Oorja Protonics] More »
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Morgan is building the LifeCar to demonstrate, "that a zero emission vehicle can also be fun to drive." The tiny English car maker - better known for wood framed roadsters - is trying to do what no car maker has done before it: bring to market a fast, fun, desirable sports car that makes no sacrifices for its hydrogen fuel cell. More »
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Our partners in crime over at Giz may not have gotten any sleep this week while patrolling the Consumer Electronics Show, but they did manage to snap some shots under the hood of the hydrogen fuel-cell Volt. You'll notice the hydrogen tanks in the rear of the car and a battery pack out front that's smaller than the original by about 20% but will still let the car travel on electric-only power for about 40 miles. Remember, this is the same E-Flex platform found on the Cadillac Provoq. More »
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Those crazy Welchmen. A development team at the University of Glamorgan have created a "tribrid" 16 passenger bus that will be pressed into duty as a short range student and faculty hauler. A tribrid, in case you're slow, is a vehicle that relies on a three part motive system. In this case we're looking at power from a combo of hydrogen fuel cell, an ultracapacitor, and a battery pack. While the fuel cell and battery pack are pretty conventional, the advantage of the ultracapacitor is what's interesting here. More »
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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. More »
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One of the most expensive parts of a fuel cell is the metal catalyst, which is often platinum. So it's good news for those who want cheaper fuel cell vehicles that researchers at the National Renewable Energy Labs in Colorado have wired a hydrogenase enzyme to connect electrically with a carbon nanotube. We think? By combining the super tiny strands of carbon with hydrogenese a "biohybrid" catalyst is created, eliminating the need for platinum and other metal bits. Yeah science! [Physorg] More »
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The most remarkable thing about driving Honda's FCX Clarity prototype isn't how it emits nothing but water, its torquey, 13,500 rpm electric motor, the hydrogen equivalent of 68 miles per gallon or the perverse pleasure that goes with driving a multimillion-dollar automobile. It's the air-conditioned seats. Notice I said driving, because other than the whirring buzz of the motor, the Clarity goes, brakes and turns just like any other car. I had to keep reminding myself I was indeed behind the wheel of a hydrogen fuel-cell powered feat of engineering. Frankly, the Clarity feels like a slightly larger Accord. Again, Honda's latest FCX uses no gasoline whatsoever and behaves just like — no, make that exactly like — a regular car. And those AC seats? They have built-in fans to blow thermoelectrically cooled air, so no ozone-killing chlorofluorocarbons are needed to chill your fat butt. Pretty neat.

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You're looking at Honda's new hydrogen fuel cell powered FCX Clarity parked in front of the Malibu Presbyterian Church that was destroyed in the recent fires. As the Clarity emits water and achieves the gasoline consumption equivalent of 68 mpg, we thought it only fitting to shoot it parked in front of one of Global Warming's victims. The Clarity, of course, is supposed to help with all that — although we're still not real clear on the clarity of the environmental benefits of hydrogen created using currently readily available sources. But Honda claims they're working on that — and hey, it'll reduce your home's overall power bills. Oh yeah, almost forgot. Honda tossed us the keys to their multi-million dollar pre-production baby (LA Times Pulitzer Prize-winning auto critic Dan Neil claims it's worth "like $10,000,000 or more") and let us cruise from Santa Monica through the toasted canyons of Malibu. Full review coming this Monday. More »
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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 »
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[Update: Full first drive road test here] Honda's hydrogen powered family sedan has a new name — Clarity. Following a decades old corporate mandate, "Blue Skies For Our Children," the mid-size Clarity will (supposedly) return an EPA-certified 68 MPG. The Clarity also will pass federal safety standards, start in minus 22 degree weather and survive trips out to Las Vegas (high heat). Refueling is still a pain as you either need a getting-smaller-but-still-bulky natural gas fired home unit, or live near Santa Monica, Torrance or Irvine. For now. However, the per-tank range is 270 miles. Coming to a Honda dealer near you this summer (2008), Honda will happy to lease you a Clarity for $600 a month. Make the jump to read Honda's press release. More »
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While a hydrogen-fueled future seems perfect, it might not seem so great if it results in a jet flame heading towards you at a high velocity. According to researchers/buzzkills at the University of Sheffield, a computer simulation of a hydrogen car crashing inside a tunnel revealed some not-so-fantastic side effects. Whereas gasoline leaks onto the ground and then ignites, hydrogen would escape into the air as a 2000 °C flame that would extend out for many meters (likely straight up). More »
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As quickly as the Teutonic knights of Daimler shed one relationship with a dirty 'merican auto company, they've now just signed up to partner with another one. This time instead of a merger of equals, it's merely a joint stake with Ford and Ballard Power Systems in a new company the two automakers (and one supplier!) are calling "Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation," which we're assuming can also be called by it's partial acronym, "AutoFuCC." (Pause for laughter) The new, privately-held company will focus on automotive fuel cell technology and allow the two automakers to further expand their global leading position in fuel cell technology. With a share of 50.1 percent, Daimler AG will be the majority stakeholder in the new company. Ford Motor Company will hold a 30-percent stake and Ballard Power Systems the remaining stake of 19.9 percent in the cooperative effort. Full press release after the jump. More »
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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] More »
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Toyota's announced today they've one-upped Chevy's little Sequel with their own FCHV (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle). If you remember, the Chevy Sequel took a 300-mile one-way drive across the state of New York to become the first fuel cell vehicle to go more than 300 miles in one fill-up. Toyota's FCHV team decided they could beat that and they have — the team just finished a 348-mile one-way drive from from Osaka to Tokyo on a single fill-up of hydrogen. The road test — part of ToMoCo's FCHV public-road test program — started in central Osaka City and finished up at the Mega Web auto-themed amusement park in Tokyo's waterfront area, covering approximately 348 miles. But not only was the fuel cell hybrid minivan-UV able to make it the full distance, it was even able to do it with the air conditioner on — the entire way. Beat that — umm — every vehicle on the market. Full press release after the jump. More »
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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] More »
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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 »
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Electric scooter manufacturer Vertrix is working up a fuel-cell powered machine that'll run 155 miles on a tank of Zeppelin juice. The 500-watt cell gives the two-wheeler a top speed of 62 mph and features regenerative braking to dump juice back into the NiMH battery pack. It'll also run on reformed methanol, or can be plugged into either a 110 or 220v wall socket. We'll take ours in silver with ribs. Swastika-delete option, please. [Vectrix PDF via Hydrogen Cars and Vehicles Blog] More »
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According to the folks at New Scientist, the bunson-burner jockeys over at Virginia Tech have cooked up a stew of thirteen enzymes (extracted from sources such as plants, rabbits, bacteria and yeast) that can be added to a starch-water mixture and yields hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide was sucked out of the air during the formation of the starch, so it's a carbon-neutral deal; VA Tech researcher Y-H Percival Zhang says he can make hydrogen for $8.00 per four kilograms. What we want to know is: what kind of compression ratio can you run with hydrogen? If it's under 15:1, we're gonna hold out for Mr. Fusion. – Murilee Martin More »
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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 »
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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 »
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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; More »
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The news wizards at the Gray Lady decided yesterday that Element #1 was the big story (at least in the automotive world) so they whipped up four serious hydrogen-as-fuel articles for the enjoyment of gearheads and science geeks alike. Yep, one of the articles focuses on the Hindenburg disaster, preempting you anti-hydrogen zealots who were gonna butt in with some cracks about exploding cars. – Murilee Martin More »
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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 »
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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 »
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BMW endowed us with some cruise time in the company's Hydrogen 7 earlier today. If you're not familiar with the Hydrogenization 7 — as one punch-drunk New Yorker dubbed it — it's BMW's V12-powered 7-Series that's been tricked with a liquid hydrogen tank, heat exchangers and other gear that allow it to run on either hydrogen or gasoline combustion. Hydrogen mode is engaged via a button on the steering wheel. Under hydrogen power, the most notable difference is a slight growl under hard acceleration. But while the gas-only version of BMW's 6.0-liter V12 produces 438 hp, this prototypical Hydrogen burner is a bit less potent. With a power rating of 260 hp, and an extra 550 pounds of componentry on board, the Hydrogen 7 gets off the line just slightly faster than a Rodan. Zero to 60 mph can be accomplished in around 10 seconds, which isn't terrible until you consider the abundance of cylinders under that beveled hood. Nonetheless, the real show is at the tailpipe, where emissions exist mainly in the form of water vapor. We swung by the United Nations building in Manhattan, and thought about the Kyoto Protocol for a few seconds. Then we pointed the Hydrogen 7 back into the stream of taxis and mail trucks and headed downtown. For a moment, we felt like a clear tumbler of Evian dumped into a scum-ridden pond. Then we goosed it, just to hear that growl. – Mike Spinelli More »
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