California Autos Examiner

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Zoom Zoom Kaboom

Ok, I'm pretty sure it won't blow up like the Hindenburg, but Mazda announced today that it will begin leasing a new dual fuel vehicle in Japan. Could this be the next stepping stone on our slow path away from the oil trough? The car has a pathetic 62 mile range on hydrogen, but the longest journey does start with a single step.

From the Mazda Release:

Mazda Motor Corporation received permission from Japan's Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) on February 10, 2006, to begin leasing the RX-8 Hydrogen RE to its first two corporate customers. These vehicles, equipped with a rotary engine, feature a dual-fuel system that allows the driver to select either hydrogen or gasoline with the flick of a switch. Mazda has started limited leasing of the vehicles and today concluded leases with two energy-related companies, marking the first lease contracts of a hydrogen-powered rotary engine equipped vehicle in the world. Delivery of the vehicles is scheduled to take place in late March 2006.

Read more here.

-joe

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