Hydrogen horizons
Sunday, October 16, 2005
"I test-drove a Honda FCX, the automaker's pioneering hydrogen-powered four-seater. During acceleration, which is peppy, the FCX also produces a whine. If hydrogen fuel cell cars are the vehicles of the future, that sound will be as reassuring to a new generation of drivers as the throaty growl of a gasoline engine is to this one. Other things to get used to are reminders of the explosiveness of hydrogen: a sensor up near the dome light that signals any leakage of hydrogen and a special grounding device for use when refueling. Refueling is one of the question marks over the FCX and all hydrogen cars. Honda says its model gets 190 miles out of the two tanks on board totaling 3.75 kilograms of compressed hydrogen. That's the energy-efficiency equivalent of 60 miles per gallon of gasoline. That range is considerably less than conventional cars get. This would not be such a problem if there were hydrogen filling stations every dozen miles or so, but currently the one closest to New England is in Albany." Source: boston.com
posted by Frank @ 10:25 AM,
