Quentin Willson on zero emissions motoring

Motoring writer and presenter, Quentin Willson shares his views on zero emission motoring after taking part in the Revolve Eco-Rally from Brighton to London. He drove hydrogen fuel cell powered prototypes from Ford, a Focus FCV and a Ford Explorer FCV. Despite the fact that the Explorer is an SUV, the only emission coming from the exhaust was water and the only audible noise was from the big fat nobbly tyres. The European debut of this concept car proved controversial. After all, the only reason urban SUVs became popular is because of a loop-hole in the strict Californian emissions regulations. Some supporters of the rally wondered if a fuel-cell powered SUV is really necessary. However, the fact that all the prototypes reached the finish line, proves that zero emission motoring is closer than some people think.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Quentin-Willson
• hydrogen
• H2
• fuel-cells
• Revolve
• eco-rally
• Trafalagar
• Square
• London
• World
• Environment
• Day
• zero-emissions

[oarih94]

i think that for today, tdi and hydrogen is the best

[Joke9972]

Whatever follows, it 'll be taxed to death anyway. 10 years is nice, but how about the millions who can only afford second hand ? They'll be punished again.I see the technology, but the economy I don't see following that quick, legislation is slower in anticipation, but fast enough in adapting taxing to their pocket in whatever circumstance.

[Buttmunch5000]

but my point about home fuelling is that with a battery powered car , i can plug it in at home, without the need for driving to a fuel station, its simpler and easier.

And if they are going to play the tax it till it hurts card, then im not giving up petrol , a friend of mine, who worked for alex salmond who commissioned a report in to how much oil there was in the north sea, said that there was 60-70 years left, with current tech, the report also found out that in the world about 100yearsislef

[filthycrackhead]

Unfortunatley our governments will tax it to be around the same price as petrol is now - just a fact of life i'm afraid. environmentally its still a step in the right direction.

"Also i like to be able to be in charge of my own fuelling" - what, u own your own oil refinery do u?

[Buttmunch5000]

im not confused what i am bothered about is that , it will cost the same price as petrol, probably even more, why it should be cheap it has the potential to be the equivalent of 20p a litre, but it wont.

Also i like to be able to be in charge of my own fuelling, its not good to rely on anyone for anything.

The biggest problem is that making the hydrogen uses vastly more energy to create it than you get back from it , so i am sure that a better energy technology can be found, super capacitors

[filthycrackhead]

You seem a bit confused Buttmunch - The point was not to make it cheaper, the point is that the only emission is water vapour. This system will work in the same kind of way petrol does (ie fill up your hydrogen at the station, not at home (where did u get that idea?) ). Also yes you could try charging your battery with solar power, but you'd have to buy so many solar panels to get enough power it just wouldn't make sense!

[Buttmunch5000]

and can charge it for free if i get solar panels, instead of paying over £1 for hydrogen, and i cant really seeing oil companies selling a home fill up station either

[Buttmunch5000]

my problem with hydrogen, is taht you will still ahve to go to the pump to fill up, and at the moment it is the same price as regular petrol, i cant see taht comming down, so we will be paying £1.20+ for a litre(or equilant to a litre of petrol) of hydrogen that costs a fraction of that to produce (when more facilites get up and running) so whats the point?

I would like a battery powered car that could do at least 120miles on a charge, sorted, I can charge it on my own without going to a pump

[babycakes789]

Couldnt Agree More Lol x

[chewielouis]

quentin, youre a wanker