| HOME | CARS FOR SALE | FAQ
|
CAR INFO
|
TESTIMONIALS | LOCATION | CONTACT US |
|
Toyota intends to have a hybrid version of every one of their models available by the year 2010. With other brands such as Nissan, Mazda, Ford, Fiat, Peugeot, Audi and even Porsche, all licensed to use Toyota's Hybrid technology in future vehicles, it's clear that Toyota are onto a winning formula. However, some people have said that Hybrid cars are a just a transitional step before we move to Hydrogen cars, or some other fuel that isn't oil based. However it could be argued that any automotive technology is just an intermediary step before we move on to the next technology.
There are a number of companies currently developing Hydrogen powered cars in various shapes and forms. GM have developed a hydrogen-powered car called the "Hy-Wire" based on hydrogen fuel cell technology. When Hydrogen is mixed with oxygen inside the fuel cell, the electricity produced by the reaction, powers an electric motor which in turn propels the car, the only by-product being steam or water. On the other hand BMW have developed a 7 Series that runs Hydrogen powered 6-litre V12. In typical BMW style and just to prove there needn't be a compromise in performance when using alternative fuels, BMW have also produced a 285hp car dubbed the H2R that can accelerate from 0-100kph in just 6 seconds. This car recently set a land speed record of just under 300kph! Mazda also favour hydrogen powered internal combustion engines over the fuel cell technology, only theirs is a little different to the BMW version. Mazda have converted one of their rotary powered vehicles, the Mazda RX8, to run on Hydrogen. The rotary engine has long been recognised as a good engine to burn hydrogen and just like their fuel cell counterparts the only emissions you get from an internal combustion engine burning Hydrogen is H2O. However there is a down side to this Hydrogen technology. Firstly, the immediate downside is they are not commercially available yet. Then there's the chicken or the egg argument. Who's going to buy a hydrogen powered car when there are no hydrogen fill stations and who's going to set up a hydrogen fuel station when there are no hydrogen powered cars on the road. The other problem with hydrogen is that although it is easy to extract from water using existing technology, unfortunately this process requires a lot of electricity. Most of the world's electricity comes from burning fossil fuels or coal so although we would be removing one pollution problem by introducing hydrogen cars, we would, in our current situation, just be replacing it with another potentially worse pollution problem. This is not to say that Hydrogen fuel won't ever be the fuel of the future. It just won't be the fuel of the future anytime soon. First there needs to be the political will to set up Hydrogen fill stations before the cars can hit the market on any kind of commercial level. Then more non-polluting power generators like wind farms or solar power stations, need to be built to cope with the inevitable increase in demand for electricity from producing Hydrogen. After this has happened there will be a transition period where people will be slowly replacing their current vehicle with the Hydrogen ones. Whether we move to Hydrogen cars or not only time will tell but what is fairly certain is that hybrid cars are here to stay. It makes sense really; whether you're filling up with hydrogen or petrol, either way it's nice to only have to use half as much, especially considering there is no compromise in performance. So if you're worried about the environment. Or maybe you are just worried about oil running low and the accompanying increases in petrol prices. What can you do about it today? The answer of course is Hybrid cars. Hybrid cars, like the Toyota Prius, use half the petrol and produce up to 90% less noxious emissions when compared to an equivalent non-hybrid car. The best thing is that you don't have to wait. Hybrid cars are available right now! 
|
| HOME | CARS FOR SALE | FAQ | CAR INFO | TESTIMONIALS | LOCATION | CONTACT US |
|
Open 7 Days | 123 Currys Lane, North Shore, Auckland
NZ freecall 0800 326 227 | NZ freecall 0800 eco car tel 09 443 6379 | fax 09 443 6378 | Free Customer Parking |
| © The Clean Green Car Company 2012. All Rights Reserved | Powered By AutoBase |