Hydro RX-8 testing commences in Norway

Any mention of hydrogen and internal combustion as a solution to both peak oil and global climate change is bound to incite 'hydrogen sceptics'. Rightly, they claim that with current technology, commercial production methods and lack of infrastructure, hydrogen as the fuel of the future is almost as unworkable as perpetual-motion machines.

Not to be deterred, Mazda has shipped a hydrogen-fuelled RX-8 to Norway, where it has taken to the local roads to prove the concept.

From the commencement of the 2009 financial year, Mazda will ship 30 more vehicles of the same specification to Norway, in accordance with contractual arrangements forged between the manufacturer and the body that oversees the whole project, HyNor.

The Norwegian project is an opportunity for Mazda to showcase the hydrogen RX-8's potential on public roads outside Japan and the car represents a first step towards wholesale adoption of hydrogen as the primary fuel for industry and transport.

"Up to now, real world use of Mazda’s hydrogen rotary vehicles has been limited to Japan," says Akihiro Kashiwagi, the program manager for Mazda's hydrogen rotary engine development (at hand-over ceremony with Johan Thoresen, HyNor Chairman on right of picture).

"Participation in the HyNor project marks our advancement to the next stage. After we validate the first vehicle on Norwegian roads, we intend to deliver 30 more units under commercial lease contracts.

"We are pleased to be a part of the establishment of a society based on hydrogen energy in Norway. Mazda plans to use the wealth of data and experience that will result from this project for the further development of hydrogen vehicles."