The Incredible Lightness of Being (Hydrogen).(Brief Article)

Like Raymond, everybody loves hydrogen.

We've already told you (AW, July 30) about BMW's hydrogen world tour and its opening of a hydrogen refueling station in California for a fleet of internal-combustion 7 Series sedans.

Now Honda jumps into the fray with a solar-powered hydrogen refueling station for its very small fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered FCX-V3 hatchbacks. The FCX-V3 paced the Los Angeles Marathon in March, emitting no foul pollutants to clog runners' lungs. The refueling station splits hydrogen from water molecules, powered by a huge panel of solar cells.

Toyota can't resist pleasing the California Air Resources Board (CARB), either, importing a pair of hydrogen fuel cell-powered Highlanders (photo above) called FCHV-4s. Unlike many automakers who buy fuel cell stacks from suppliers, Toyota made the entire FCHV-4. The fuel cell stack replaces batteries as the source of electricity for a hybrid drivetrain taken straight from the Prius.

Ford has its own plans. While Ford has already announced it will offer a fuel cell-powered Focus in 2004 (AW, May 14), it is also pursuing a hydrogen-fueled internal-combustion engine. Ford's P2000 research vehicle uses a Focus 2.0-liter gasoline engine modified to run on hydrogen. Ford sees the idea as a bridge to the future because it helps create demand for a hydrogen filling station infrastructure ...