| |
| |
|
More Environment-Friendly,
Fuel Cell Powered Hondas to Traverse the Streets of Los Angeles Soon
by Jenny McLane
This is the latest buzz words in the car industry, but what is it really all
about?
Honda FCX powered by Honda fuel cells.
It has been two years since
Honda released the Honda FCX which has become the
first fuel cell vehicle in the world to receive government certification, paving
the way for the commercial use of fuel cell vehicles. This comes as no surprise
as Honda has always been an advocate of environmental consciousness and a
pioneer in developing cutting edge technology in protecting the environment. The
fuel-cell is propelled by electricity generated by a hydrogen-oxygen chemical
reaction, and its only emission, amazingly, is water vapour. Now, with a fresh
stamp of approval from the Environmental Protection Agency and the California
Air Resources Board, Honda is delivering a family of new FCX fuel-cell vehicles
to its first customer, the city of Los Angeles, known for its strict
environmental emission rules to eliminate the overwhelming air pollution already
at its midst.
The latest version of Honda fuel cells delivers about 15% more maximum drive
motor torque than the previous prototypes and also provides improvements in
mid-to-high range power output characteristics and acceleration. It also has an
amplified driving range of 220 miles, about 25 miles more than the previous
model.
How does the fuel cell work?
In principle, a fuel cell functions like a battery. Dissimilar from a battery
though, a fuel cell does not run down or require recharging. It will produce
energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. The type
of fuel cell used in the Honda FCX is called a Polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
Powered by Hydrogen gas the fuel cell provides power to the FCX's AC synchronous
electric motor to give the FCX a top speed of around 93 mph. With engine output
at around 60kW, Honda claims the clean FCX has similar performance to the its
petrol drinking brother, the Honda Civic. Fuel Cells produce electricity from an
external fuel supply as opposed to the limited internal energy storage capacity
of a battery.
A fuel cell system, which includes a "fuel reformer", can utilize the hydrogen
from any hydrocarbon fuel - from natural gas to methanol, and even gasoline.
Since the fuel cell relies on chemistry and not combustion, emissions from this
type of a system would still be much smaller than emissions from the cleanest
fuel combustion processes. In fact fuel cells running on hydrogen derived from a
renewable source will emit nothing but water vapour. Water vapour being its only
exhaust, a fuel cell powered vehicle such as the Honda FCX produces completely
no harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Fuel cells were first used in a practical application by NASA in the 1960’s for
their Apollo space program. For decades sensible fuel cell application was
regarded as too costly and too difficult for automobile usage. Through constant
research and development its utilization may become a reality, the only problem
that crops up is the source for refuelling.
Honda’s proposed solution for refuelling stations.
If fuel cell powered cars ever become popular, gas stations may soon have to
start supplying hydrogen as well as their regular petroleum based products. But
since currently there are only a handful of them around, this may be far from
happening.
Until then, Honda will continue to do some research on other possible solutions.
An experimental Home Energy Station (HES) is seen as the most feasible. The HES
could generate hydrogen from natural gas for use in fuel cell vehicles while
supplying electricity and hot water to the home. The new HES system that has
been jointly developed with strategic fuel cell partner Plug Power Inc. is
located on the grounds of Honda R&D Americas in Torrance, California, and will
undergo experiments in hydrogen production, storage and fuelling, as part of
ongoing research into hydrogen energy sources. The new HES system, which can
currently produce enough hydrogen to refill the tank of a Honda FCX hydrogen
fuel cell vehicle taking just a few minutes once a day.
Honda’s dedication to a greener and cleaner environment.
Honda started research and development on fuel cells in 1989. Ten years after
they have been road testing fuel cell powered vehicles in the US and Japan.
Honda is a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) based in
Sacramento, California, and has been working closely with that organization.
Honda has had a long history of environmental breakthroughs and dedication with
their automobiles. Even from way back in 1975, Honda scored it big with their
CVCC as being the first vehicle to meet the amended Clean Air act standard.
Honda was also the first auto company to produce a vehicle, the
Honda Civic, to
meet the low emission vehicle (LEV) standard in all 50 states and the first to
sell a gasoline car meeting first California's Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
standard and subsequently the "Super" ULEV standard (Accord).
Honda was also the first to sell a combined gasoline and electric powered
vehicle, the Insight, in the U.S. and early in 2002 they introduced the Civic
Hybrid, it was the first mass marketed hybrid model. The Civic GX was the first
dedicated mass-produced natural gas vehicle when it went on sale in 1998 and has
been recognized by the EPA, as the cleanest internal combustion engine in the
world. Truly, Honda understands the need for environmental care and the total
independence in the future for petroleum based products to fuel their engines.
About the Author:
With all of this new technology cropping up, the motoring world doesn’t seem
like it used to be. The good thing is it all boils down to consumer preference.
Many products though cater to the whole welfare of the people even when it is
channelled through too many aspects. What is inevitable is that no mater how
efficient and durable your vehicle is, it will be subjected to wear and tear.
Constant use and driving calls for constant maintenance and preventive
maintenance also, at Auto Parts Train we continually update our catalogs to
provide the most complete and comprehensive lineup of superb Honda parts. With
25 years of experience we know that the automobile industry constantly evolves
and new technology crops up every now and then. You can be sure that we are
always on our guard for a high end Honda part.
Be it a Honda replacement part,
a Honda collision part or a Honda performance enhancement part, Auto Parts Train
is here to serve you. Browse through our 24-hour online shop to find the perfect
Honda part for you. Click on this link
(http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/HONDA ) to see our wide array of first
rate Honda auto parts that we have on stock. We guarantee all the fit and
quality of our Honda car parts. For assistance, you may call our toll free line,
1-888-251-1214, 12 hours a day, six days a week. Our very efficient and
highly-trained customer service staff is standing by to help you.
Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on
cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market
Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today. |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Australia-Wide products/services |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
