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2008 Issues Archive
25 June 2008
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Carmakers go into top gear on alternative fuels
The sustained high price of oil is causing carmakers to accelerate the development of vehicles that run on alternative fuels.
The FCX Clarity, the first hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle to be produced by Honda, has begun to roll off the production line, and carmakers and suppliers have announced several deals to develop vehicles that are not reliant on fossil fuels.
Honda’s vehicle, which has taken almost 20 years to develop and emits water, is being made at a dedicated facility in Japan. The company expects to produce 200 over the next three years for the US and Japanese markets.
PSA Peugeot Citroën and Mitsubishi Motors said last week that they were collaborating to develop and manufacture an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles. The US Department of Energy also announced that Ford, General Motors and General Electric were to work on a $30 million programme to develop plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with a range of 40 miles, suitable for commuting trips.
Meanwhile tier-one supplier Robert Bosch is working with Samsung to develop lithium ion battery technology for automotive applications. And in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover has said that a recruitment drive for engineers is focused on green technologies such as hybrids.
John Kingston, UK environment manager at Honda, said the arrival of the FCX Clarity was “particularly significant during this time of rapidly increasing oil prices”.
He added: “Honda is proud to offer an alternative energy solution that could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and the effect of motoring on climate change.”
Early users of the vehicle include actress Jamie Lee Curtis and Ron Yerxa, producer of the film
Little Miss Sunshine
.
Honda has selected customers in southern California based on their proximity to an existing network of hydrogen refuelling stations.
The development of a hydrogen infrastructure is one of the key factors holding back the introduction of fuel-cell powered cars. There are also concerns over the manner in which the hydrogen is produced, which typically involves burning fossil fuels.
Peugeot claims to be the biggest manufacturer of electric vehicles, with more than 10,000 units sold.
© PE Publishing, 25 June 2008
