Fresh from its appearance at Ecovelocity last week, the FCX Clarity is now making a star appearance in Scotland, appearing at the World Hydrogen Technologies Conference in Glasgow.One of only a handful of series production hydrogen fuel cars in the world, the Honda-made car became the very first such car to enter production back in 2008. Currently available on a limited lease programme in the US and Japan, the car will now appear in Glasgow between September 14 and 18th, as the conference explores the future of a hydrogen economy.
Welcoming more than 150 leading hydrogen experts from around the world, the conference’s major theme this year is ‘Renewables to Hydrogen’ exploring the opportunities to create a clean, sustainable hydrogen economy from the many forms of available renewable energy. This is particularly relevant to Scotland and to the UK, given the substantial wind, wave and tidal resources available.
The conference was opened by Fergus Ewing, Scotland’s Minister of Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, (pictured) who fully endorsed the drive to renewable energy and cleaner fuels.
The Honda FCX Clarity works like an electric car with hydrogen creating the electric on-board through a ‘fuel cell stack’. The stack creates electricity from a reaction between hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen. This reaction produces only one emission; pure water which comes out of the tailpipe in the form of vapour. If hydrogen can be produced for commercial use from clean sources such as wind power then cars such as the Honda FCX Clarity can truly become zero harmful emissions.
Hydrogen cars depend on a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure however, currently absent in the UK. In response to this, Honda, in cooperation with BOC and Forward Swindon- are launching the UK’s first public hydrogen refuelling station, just off the M4, at Honda’s Swindon car plant, on September 20.
Source;
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2011/09/15/honda-fcx-clarity-heads-glasgow-hydrogen-conference/