Mazda have announced their first vehicle to successfully combine hydrogen and petrol.  The RX-8 Hydrogen RE, is making its debut outside Japan at the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) Conference in Norway today.

Fifteen years in the making, the RX-8 employs a hydrogen-powered rotary engine, as opposed to a fuel cell, which can switch seamlessly to an internal combustion engine. This facility will be key to commercialising hydrogen technology, Akihiro Kashiwagi, manager of the Hydrogen RE programme at Mazda, explained to the FullBoost website.

"A hydrogen rotary engine only emits water," he said. "It is not as efficient as a fuel cell, but structurally it is closer to the petrol engine, hence its manufacturing cost is lower and it has fewer durability issues."

"Compared to fuel cells, hydrogen engines with dual-fuel systems are more likely to play a significant role in the initial phase of the hydrogen energy society in the future," he added.

Mazda has already leased a number of the environmentally-friendly models to local governments and firms in Japan.

As well as participating at the showcase of alternative energy today, the Mazda will feature at the official opening of Norway's first hydrogen refuelling station tomorrow, the first step in the development of the infrastructure necessary to support hydrogen-powered transport.

Brage Johansen, manager of the hydrogen group at the energy firm Statoil, responsible for building the refuelling station, commented: "The hydrogen station in Stavanger is the first step of a long and exciting journey for hydrogen and we are very proud to have Mazda present at the opening."


Ÿ Adfero Ltd