General Motors Corp. will likely unveil a prototype plug-in hybrid at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, MSNBC reports. The advanced technology vehicle would have an extended driving range on battery power and would also have a diesel or gasoline engine that could power the car when the battery was low, the Detroit News said, citing unnamed GM officials. Plug-in hybrids are gas-electric vehicles that can recharge their batteries with an extension cord and a normal wall outlet.
Mazda Motor Corporation today announced that it has delivered one dual-fueled RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle, which runs either on gasoline or hydrogen, to the Yamaguchi Prefecture government through a commercial lease contract. The Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE model's duel-fuel system allows a driver to select either gasoline or hydrogen fuel with the flick of a switch.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today held a demonstration drive of the next-generation FCX Concept fuel cell vehicle. The FCX Concept features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack as well as a low-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. It offers a comfortably large cabin and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on this concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the U.S.
General Motors has revealed a driveable version of the most technologically advanced car ever built, the Sequel.Sequel was first introduced in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, US. It is the first vehicle in the world to successfully integrate a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system with a broad menu of advanced technologies such as steer-and brake-by-wire controls, wheel hub motors, lithium-ion batteries and a light-weight aluminium structure. It uses clean hydrogen as fuel produced by renewable methods, and emits only water vapour.
BMW is the world's first car maker to present a hydrogen-drive car which has successfully completed the process of series development: The BMW Hydrogen 7 with its hydrogen combustion engine is the result of a consistent development strategy now rendering this trendsetting concept of sustained mobility fully suitable for regular use in today's world. The BMW 7 Series Hydrogen 7 Saloon is powered by a 191 kW/260 hp twelve-cylinder and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9.5 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 230 km/h or 143 mph. And as long as full supply of hydrogen is not guaranteed, the dual-mode power unit featured in BMW Hydrogen 7 switches over quickly and conveniently to conventional premium gasoline.
BMW has released video of the BMW Hydrogen 7. The Hydrogen 7 is powered by a 191 kW/260 hp twelve-cylinder hydrogen combustion engine and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9.5 seconds. The vehicle runs on liquid hydrogen and, when needed, the dual-mode power unit switches over to conventional premium gasoline. The development of hydrogen technology is part of the BMW Group's CleanEnergy strategy, which serves to fulfil current and future demand for individual mobility without the use of fossil fuels.
Facing rising gas prices, Americans are buying more alternative fuel autos, including hybrids, diesel and ethanol- capable vehicles, according to automakers. "Our priority is to get the word out that alternative fuel autos are on sale now, and these vehicles are the quickest way to reduce gasoline use," said Fred Webber, President & CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine global automakers selling vehicles in the U.S.
The LS 600h combines a 5.0-litre V8 engine with a hybrid powertrain – hence the ‘h’ suffix – enabling it to comfortably match the performance of even larger capacity normally-aspirated V12 engines. It will make its European debut on the Lexus stand at the Paris Motor Show on 28 September, presented both in standard and long-wheelbase form. The LS 600h L is 12cm longer overall, providing passengers with even more space and additional comfort features, such as reclining rear seats with built-in massage functions and air conditioning that is controlled according to the body temperature of the people on board.
Following on from the successful trial of the Lexus RX 400h by Hampshire Police in August last year, Wiltshire Constabulary will be the first police force in UK to incorporate the recently launched high performance Lexus GS 450h to their fleet.
Honda’s Civic Hybrid has been churned into a cow for an appearance at Fruitstock, the innocent festival, this weekend. Hoofed have thought it? Honda is attending the London event to inform and educate festival-goers on cleaner driving. "We’ve created a Hybrid with grass before," explains John Kingston, Environment Manager for Honda (UK), "and the next logical step was a cow car. When I first herd the idea in the office, I thought, ‘what a load of bull’, and told the person who suggested it to ‘pull the udder one’. But on reflection, it was probably the best moos I’d heard all day, besides – no-one came up with a heifer idea."
