Tuesday September 26, 2006

Honda plans clean diesel, fuel-cell car in 3 years

peakoil.com -> bloomberg.com :

Honda, vying with Toyota for buyers of fuel-efficient autos, aims to leapfrog rivals by introducing the world's cleanest diesel car and a fuel-cell-powered sports car within three years. Honda is the world's largest engine maker and trails only Toyota in hybrid-electric auto production.

Honda unveiled a drivable version of the FCX fuel-cell sports car first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. Its top speed is 160 km/h (100 mph) and can travel 570 km (356 miles) when fully fueled. Performance is equivalent to a 2.4-liter gasoline engine car, spokesman David Iida said. No automaker has unveiled a working fuel-cell car with higher speed or range.

Diesel offers fuel-economy comparable to hybrids. The fuel is also dirtier than gasoline, creating unhealthy levels of soot and nitrous oxide fumes. Strict air-quality rules prevent Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler, the biggest diesel sellers, from offering such models in California and four other U.S. states. Honda said its diesel engine differs from rivals' by using a new nitrogen oxide catalytic converter to make and store ammonia on-board. "We hope to take the leadership in environmental technology as we did with CVCC," said Fukui.

See also :

1. Honda unveils next-generation power plant technologies (Advanced VTEC, clean diesel)
2. Honda unveils next-generation FCX fuel cell concept vehicle
3. Honda, Toyota and soaring gasoline prices

(2006-09-26 13:10:41 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

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