“The French are leading the way to eco-city of the future with small urban Evs and systems that turn them into a sharable form of public transportation.” The Air Car by MDI is the most important eco-city friendly innovation of this century. The Air Car has about the same EV mileage range but requires no batteries.
Germany uses high-speed light rail systems to move people into the center of the city in about half and hour. 1994, Daimler-Benz built NECAR - the first fuel cell vehicle; NECAR II was a small van and could seat six; NECAR II reached traveling speeds of 60 mph and maintained a range of 150 miles; NECAR III has fuel reforming which increase the range to three hundred miles. In 1997, NEBUS arrived by Ballard and was powered by its 25 kilowatt fuel cell stacks. In 1998, Daimler-Benze delivered the world’s first methanol reformed fuel cell car, NECAR III.
Fuel Cell Project House says this about the NECAR III, “it’s our first methanol vehicle and the reforming technology is very complex. It takes time for the four step process to work, so there is hesitation when you accelerate, plus the problem of excessive noise from the compressor.” Gerald Hornburg, the DBB fuel cell system manager estimated NECAR III to be worth more than $5 million.
DaimlerChrysler’s Panik is convinced that methanol will be the fuel of the future: Germany has enough methanol for two million cars and there is enough methanol in the world for two million cars. Methanol production by China is possible because they have coal and natural gas that could be converted to Methanol. “Hydrogen fuel cells make a lot of sense for China, but its expensive technology requiring considerable investment.”
In 1999, NECAR IV was unveil with 40 percent increase in power, top speed of ninety miles per hour, and a 280 mile range. NECAR IV ran on liquid hydrogen. “The company is intrigued by liquid fuel’s easy portability, as is BMW, and both are in partnership with the German company Linde, which builds liquid hydrogen refueling stations.” Hydrogen reaches a liquid state at minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
In 1997, Toyota showed a drivable methanol reformed “FCEV” fuel-cell car, based on its electric Rav 4. FCEV hydrogen fuel was stored in metal hydride. Toyota said it could obtain a 155 mile range with its metal hydride storage. David Hermance said “I’m not sure what system (metal hydride or onboard reformer) we’ll end up with but my personal belief is that we’ll never solve all the cost problems for onboard reformers. Direct hydrogen, however, is doable by 2004 - with some luck” No luck.
Projects that didn’t measure up: 1. Hydrogen burning rotary engined Miata 2. Methanol reforming Nissan 3. Altra EV with lithium-ion battery (75 mph with a 80 mile range and 5 hour recharge cycle)
Consumers expected Honda commitment too Low Emission technology to drived cars capable of 100 mpg using gasoline internal combustible engines, but instead got sporter, heavier, and more stylist vehicles. The beauty of the Honda CXV was 50 mpg.
Low Emission technology with a swirl vortex plasma heater eliminated the need for a catalytic converter. Catalytic converts control emissions by burning unburned fuel, lower emissions caused from waste. Why not burn all the fuel the first time says PCCI technology.
“Taken for a ride” describes consumer disappointment in Honda’s software allowing misfirings. When the news broke there was an uproar and Honda commitment to quality challenged.
“In the 1970s, Honda let Ford look at its data on how to meet Clean Air Act goals without catalytic converters”. CVCC was the early low-emission engine.
Honda's 2.3-liter, four-cylinder used in the 1998 Accord EX was the first gasoline-powered vehicle to meet California ULEV standard. Hybrid technology increases the cost of the vehicle but promises low emissions. Plugin Hybrid technology will probably become the choice for Low or Zero Emission regulation.
Honda spokesman, Art Garner is not looking to fuel cell technology any time soon, as he says, “I agree with most people in the industry that fuel cells represent the best long-term potential, but the won’t be here anytime soon. It will be a long time before they’re financially feasible.” Honda is working with methanol and built a prototype called FCX-V2. FCX-V2 incorporated Honda fuel cell and reformer technology. “Could the in-house engineers meet the significant technical challenge of miniaturizing an efficient methanol reformer?”
In 1999, ten hydrogen car prototypes were developed and by 2008 none have made it too market: Honda FCX-V2, Daihatsu MOVE EV-FC, Mazda Demio FCEV, Honda FCX-V1, Honda FCX, BMW 750hl, Venturer Geo Metro, Nissan Altra FCV, DaimlerChrysler NeCar 4, and Ford P2000.