Mazda
believes in hydrogen, hydrogen hybrids, but not hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles
Monday,
October 22, 2007
Mazda's
hydrogen hybrid
Mazda believes the future is along the 'hydrogen highway',
but the automaker doesn't believe that autos on that
highway should be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
"A hydrogen fuel cell is efficient but," Mazda
executive Nobuhiro Hayama said on Monday, "a
hydrogen engine was more practical because no change was
needed in the materials and manufacturing process of
engines."
Instead, Mazda believes that hydrogen engines - basically
internal combustion engines powered by hydrogen rather
than gasoline - are the future, especially rotary engines.
"A hydrogen fuel cell is efficient but Hayama said a
hydrogen engine was more practical because no change was
needed in the materials and manufacturing process of
engines."
In addition, the technology behind gasoline powered hybrid
cars could also be applied to hydrogen vehicles to
increase their efficiency. Currently, a hydrogen fuel cell
vehicle is about twice as efficient as an internal
combustion engine.
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