Mazda
to show RX-8 Hydrogen RE at Norway's ONS2006 Exhibition
Photo: Mazda
Leverkusen - Mazda
Motor Corporation took a big step towards hydrogen fuel
sustainability earlier this year when it began leasing the Mazda
RX-8 Hydrogen RE - a dual-fuel, hydrogen and petrol usable
rotary-engine vehicle - to companies in Japan. European's will
have a chance to see the vehicle in action beginning on 22
August at the ONS2006, an energy exhibition and conference held
in Stavanger, Norway.
Mazda will also use
the opening of Norway's first hydrogen filling station near
Stavanger for the first on-road showing outside of Japan of the
vehicle.
"The
hydrogen station in Stavanger is the first step of a
long and exciting journey for hydrogen, and we are very
proud to have Mazda present at the opening," said
Mr. Brage W. Johansen, Manager Hydrogen Group, Statoil
ASA and member of the HyNor National Board.
"Hydrogen has always suffered from the classic
chicken-and-egg debate: the car manufacturers wait for a
fuel distribution network to be set up, and the fuel
suppliers for cars to be produced. In the end we decided
to take a risk and build the first station and as you
can see, already the first cars arrive."
The filling station is the first of several hydrogen filling
stations planned by the national HyNor Project that has been
established to promote hydrogen as an alternative fuel in
Norway. More than 30 Norwegian partners with representatives
from the public authorities, industry and commerce and the
academic community are working together to build up the first
infrastructure for hydrogen fuel in Norway. Their initial goal
is to make it possible to drive a hydrogen-powered vehicle like
the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE between the cities of Stavanger and
Oslo. The next filling station along this route will be opened
in Grenland in spring 2007.
"Mazda means business
when it comes to developing alternative fuel vehicles," said James
Muir, President and CEO of Mazda Motor Europe. "Proof of this, is
that we will be driving into a new Norwegian hydrogen filling station in
a car that is not a prototype, but a model that Mazda has begun to lease
to regional governmental authorities and companies in Japan. It uses
both petrol and hydrogen at the flick of a switch, is safe and fun to
drive. With several countries in Europe beginning to invest in hydrogen
infrastructures, Mazda's RX-8 Hydrogen RE represents an important step
towards eventual mass production.
History
of Mazda's Hydrogen Vehicle Development
1991
Developed
the first hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X
1992
Test
drive of golf cart equipped with fuel cell
1993
Developed
second hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X2
Developed
test version of MX-5 equipped with hydrogen rotary engine
1995
Conducted
Japan's first public road test with Capella Cargo equipped with
hydrogen rotary engine
1997
Developed
Demio (Mazda2) FC-EV
2001
Developed
Premacy FC-EV and conducted first public road test in Japan (with
methanol reformer fuel cell system)
2003
Announced
Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine vehicle development model
2004
Conducted
the world's first public road tests of the RX-8 hydrogen rotary
engine that can run on two types of fuel--hydrogen and gasoline
Mar.
23, 2006
Mazda
Motor Corporation delivers one RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle each to
its first two corporate customers. Several more are planned this
year
