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Water Powered Rotary?Story by Jeff Feldsher - October 22,2007 Mazda has always done things a little differently; their smartly designed cars and unique rotary engines have long been admired by motor-heads, creating a distinctive niche in the marketplace for the Japanese automaker. That tradition continues with Mazda pursuing the development of a next generation hydrogen powered vehicle. Together with partner Ford (who owns a controlling 34% interest) the revolutionary engine would in essence be water-powered. Through the process of electrolysis, hydrogen gas is separated and removed, it is then injected into the combustion chamber as with any other oil derived fuel. Not only does the alternative fuel cell operate solely on 100% H²0, but it produces no harmful emissions whatsoever, with only clean water vapor exiting the tail-pipes. “We have to prepare for sustainable zoom-zoom. We have to make a link with the hydrogen society of the future.” said Mazda executive Nobuhiro Hayama on Monday.
The technology is still in development and has some challenges that will need to be resolved. Currently in short supply, platinum is a key ingredient in the fuel cell, the precious metal is used in creating catalysts responsible for extracting the hydrogen gas. In addition hydrogen ignites at a lower temperature than normal gasoline, this could lead to incomplete or unstable combustion. For any other manufacturer this may pose a serious problem and would no doubt delay testing. Not so with Mazda; their solution is to toss their legendary rotary motor at the dilemma. Rotaries inherently run hotter and with richer air-fuel mixtures than conventional piston engines, making them potentially excellent candidates for the new fuel.
The hydrogen fuel cell will also integrate easily with existing engine designs and manufacturing methods, offering consumers what may well be the best alternative fuel powered vehicle yet.
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