Tokyo Motor Show: Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE hybrid (autobloggreen.com)

[eppur_se_muova]

Posted Oct 24th 2007 4:13PM by Sebastian Blanco
Filed under: Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mazda, Tokyo Motor Show

The Exhibition Model of the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is on display this week at the Tokyo Motor Show, and Mazda swears it's "a fresh approach to the future of Zoom-Zoom." Man, I like the whole "Zoom-Zoom" thing less each time I hear it.

The Premacy Hydrogen RE uses an updated version of the dual fuel rotary engine (it can use gasoline or hydrogen) that has been in use in the RX-8 Hydrogen RE. The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is still in development, but it does offer extended range, a larger carrying capacity than the RX-8 and a "Powerful fun-to-drive feeling."

Mazda is also bringing plant-based Biotechmaterial and news of new recycling methods to Tokyo. Read all about them after the jump.



more (looks like a Mazda press release): http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/24/tokyo-motor-show-mazda-premacy-hydrogen-re-hybrid/

If it can burn either H2 or gasoline, what else can it burn? Biodiesel? Methane? Butanol? Would that be a big jump? Maybe Mazda has an opportunity to design a car that just burns whatever fuel is available, with minimum modification -- and since it's a hybrid, could even be made rechargable. Maybe they should focus on that, instead of "Zoom-zoom" sports cars:

[mth44sc]

1. Ok I been drivin' Mazdas for 30 years

But I'm not sure I wanna get in that thing...

[eppur_se_muova]

2. What could possibly go wrong?

[hatrack]

3. "My name is Optimus Prime . . . but my EROEI still really sucks!"

:eyes:

[TheWraith]

4. It's silly that so much effort is being wasted in search of a fast-refuel system.

Current pure electric designs are far more practical than the hydrogen systems being touted, with the one drawback that they take longer to refuel/recharge. Really, though, the number of people who actually require 200+ miles per day is fairly low, and we can continue tweaking battery chemistry for fast recharges. It doesn't make sense to expend all this effort simply to have a system where you can still pull up to a pump if you need more range.

[razzzleberry]

5. there is nothing new ablout adding another fuel ...

to a vehicle that already burns, gasoline, ethanol,
natural gas and propane.

[amandabeech]

6. No comments on from what source and with what method they plan to obtain the H2?

Right now, its made from and with natural gas, which isn't plentiful in Japan or North America, at least in the near future.

Do they plan on splitting water molecules?

What EROEI are they looking at on obtaining the hydrogen?