Thursday, August 03, 2006

Tiny hydrogen racer could lead to big things

Tiny hydrogen racer could lead to big things

Elaine Kurtenbach
The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
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CREDIT: AP Photo/Elaine Kurtenbach
Taras Wankewycz, founder of Horizon, explains the hydrogen-powered system in Shanghai, China. This month, the company will begin sales in the U.S. and other major markets of a tiny hydrogen fuel cell car, complete with its own solar-powered refueling station, that Wankewycz and his partners say is a step toward making the technology commercially viable for the mass market.


It's a dream that's been pursued for years by governments, energy companies and automakers so far without success: mass-producing affordable hydrogen-powered cars whose tailpipes spew nothing but clean water.
So Shanghai's Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies decided to start small. Really small.
This month, it will begin sales of a tiny hydrogen fuel-cell car, complete with its own miniature solar-powered refuelling station. The toy is a step toward introducing the technology to the public and making it commercially viable.