rogen-powered

AUTOMOTION

IN THE race to produce a
practical, non-polluting pas-
senger car, Mazda has made
some interesting technologi-
cal breakthroughs in the past
few years.

In 1991 they displayed an odd-
looking, two-seat hydrogen- -fueled
. concept car called the HRX-1, and
- this year they introduced an equally
_ Strange-looking four-seat hydrogen
concept car Called the HRX-2.
But as advanced as these concept
cars are, they are years away from
- being mass-produced, if at all.
<The reai. breakthrough in hydro-
gen cars has taken a more familiar
* form. Mazda has fitted its Miata
» Sports car with a rotary engine that
tuns on hydrogen.
_«! The hydrogen-powered vehicle
was displayed at the Globe °94

" environmental conference in

- Vancouver in March.
‘ Like the HRX-1 and HRX-2, the
‘ hydrogen Miata uses a Wankel
rotary engine which burns hydrogen
gas. ;
‘ Unlike a conventional piston
engine, a rotary engine is ideally

suited for hydrogen fuel.

A rotary engine has separate
intake and combustion chambers,
which eliminates the backfire and
pre-ignition problems that plague
piston engines fueled with hydro-
gen.

Since Mazda is now the only
major manufacturer producing
rotary engines, they have an impor-
tant, and somewhat unexpected,
advantage over other car manufac-
turers.

In addition, Mazda’s metal
hydride storage tank, which stores
hydrogen gas like a sponge in metal
particles, is much safer than com-
pressed-hydrogen gas storage tanks.
Only a small amount of hydrogen
gas is released at any one time,
reducing combustion risks.

The hydrogen Miata is virtually
pollution-free — it emits only water
vapor and minute traces of nitrogen
oxides.

And from a practical poini of
view, the hydrogen Miata is a famil-
iar, proven design. It is not quite as
sporty as the conventional Miata.
It’s heavier, slower and has a short-
er driving range.

The Miata’s metal hydride ster-
age tank and related hardware add
348 kilograms (767 Ibs.) to the
weight of the Miata, increasing it to
1,405 kg (3,098 Ibs.).

In addition, its 1.3-litre rotary
engine develops 108 horsepower
compared to the 128 horsepower
from the standard Miata’s 1.8-iitre

- gas engine.

That explains why the hydrogen
Miata takes 13 seconds to get to 100
km/h compared to 9.0 seconds for
the standard car. It has a top speed
of 150 km/h. That performance is
still quite acceptable for general
urbai and highway use.

The driving range of the hydro-
gen Miata is much shorter, howev-
er: 230 kilometres versus 613 kilo-
metres,

That means that the hydrogen
Miata world have to be refuelled

every few days and is not suitable
for long trips.

tn addition, the metal hybride
storage tank is expected to last
100,000 kilometres before it has to
be replaced.

But as a first effort, the hydrogen
Miata is an amazing leap in near
zero-emissions technology.

Greg Young, public affairs man-
ager for Mazda Canada, believes
that the familiar nature of the hydro-
gen Miata gives it wide public
appeal.

“The dynamics of this car (the
hydrogen Miata) and the standard

Sas

Miata are much the same,” he said.
“Tt uses a rotary engine, and it dri-
ves much like a regular Miata.
That’s important to the consumer
acceptance of the hydrogen car.”

Mazda is hoping that its hydro-
gen rotary technology will meet the
tough zero-emissions standards pro-
posed for California in 1998.

Two per cent of vehicles sold in
that year will be required to be zero-
emissions. Mazda is currently
developing a catalytic converter to
remove the traces of nitrogen oxides
that form in the combustion process.

Hydrogen refuelling stations

Puzzler

don’t exist as yet, but one has been
built al the University of California
at Riverside.

An Ontario hydrogen production
firm which produces hydrogen yas
through electrolosis, Electrolyser,
has built refueling facilities there.

The next step for Mazda may be
a hydrogen-fueled passenger car,
such as the new 323 compact to be
introduced this fall.

As governments around the
world legislate cleaner cars, the
development of this technology is
likely to take off in a big hurry.

.. presented by

¥ ¢ ; ie reed y a $15,
‘Ap ril 15, 16 & 17, 1994
Co Renia Theatre, North Vanceuver, B.C.
Plan to attend this internationally recognized sale of auto-
mobiles, automobile art & automobilia in the elegant sur-
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, available for those wishing to sell, call 983-2662 now.

Ee ASSO ES

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$4 1 OS EASE SRD. ST., NORTH VANCOUVER a

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