Hydrogen . . . the fuel of the future Alternative fuels such as natural gas, propane and methanol are being offered as a solution to harmful automobile emissions, but many scientis believe these fuels are only temporary steps towards the ultimate fuel: hydrogen. When burned, hydrogen produces a small amount of water vapor and traces of nitrogen oxides. In a fuel cell, it can be used to produce clean electric power. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide, the “greenhouse” gas, as well as harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxides and hydrocarbons. A number of automobile companies have been experimenting with hydrogen fuel, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. Mazda, however, has taken a unique approach towards producing a practical, affordable hydrogen-fuelled automobile. Last October, Mazda Motor Corporation introduced a tiny, two-seat urban car, the HR-X, fueled by pollution-free hydrogen gas. And just recently, Mazda unveiled an experimental compact station wagon using hydrogen fuel. Both are powered by Mazda's exclusive rotary engine which gives them a distinct advantage over other automakers. "The rotary engine is ideally suited for hydrogen use,” says Mazda's general manager of Powertrain Research, Toshiro Yagi. “In a conventional engine, highly-flammable hydrogen tends to cause pre-ignition and backfiring. However, in the rotary engine, the intake chamber and combustion chamber are completely separate, eliminating this problem.” : Mazda's one litre, two-rotor hydrogen rotary engine generates 100 horsepower, significantly more than most electric vehicles under development. Installed in the experimental 1260 kilogram HR-X urban car, the hydrogen- rotary engine pushes the car from zero to 400 meters in less than 19 seconds and has a stop speed:of more than 150 kilometers per hour. Currently, Mazda is the only major automobile manufacturer still producing the rotary engine. Most car manufacturers abandoned the rotary in the mid 70s because of its poor gas mileage. Mazda, however, held on to theirs, refining and upgrading it for their RX-7 sports car. And while other automakers are researching liquid hydrogen fuel which must be stored at minus 252 degrees in cumbersome, insulated storage tanks, Mazda is concentrating on metal-hydride storage tanks which store hydrogen at room temperature. The metal hydride tank contains metal alloys which absorb hydrogen gas like a sponge, and release it slowly to the engine. Early metal-hydride storage tanks weighed up to 900 kilograms, but Mazda's weighs just 250 kilograms fully fuelled and has a range of 200 kilometers in the HR-X. It can be refuelled approximately 500 times (each fill up takes about 15 minutes) giving the storage tank,a lifespan \ DOWNTOWN S TILDEN SERVICE “BCAA APPROVED 365-6133 975 Columbia Ave. Castlegar, B.C. AMMRAT~ See £ Castlegar, GLASS & TRIM LTD. 365-6505 B.C + Rental Car Sales + Lease to Own « Short Term Leasing ¢ Daily Rentals ¢ Financing OAC 1761 COLUMBIA AVE mz Members, Support Your Association 596 Baker St., Nelson * 352-3535 of 100,000 kilometers. That compares favorably with electric vehicle batteries with haif that lifespan. And unlike liquid hydrogen tanks and batteries, metal hydride tanks are not bulky. Mazda's fuel tank is rectangular in shape, approximately 1.5 meters by one metre by 15 centimeters in size.In addition, the metal alloys contained in the tank are recyclable at the end of the tank’s life. But perhaps its greatest advantage is safety. In a study done by Transport Canada, liquid hydrogen fuel tanks offered greater safety in a collision than either gasoline, propane or natural gas fuel tanks. Metal hydride tanks offer even greater safety than liquid hydrogen tanks. : A-major stumbling block for hydrogen fuel is lack of an infrastructure for hydrogen distribution. But as one of the world's leading producers of hydrogen and hydroelectric power, Canada is well-placed to begin producing hydrogen for the transportation sector. Mazda's Yagi confided that a hydrogen refueling station is being considered in Ontario. Another possibility is home refilling. Richard Champagne of the Hydrogen Industry Council looks forward to the day gwhen *. . . each house ‘will have a solar panel on the roof connected to an electrolizer (a simple device that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen) in the house. Hydrogen produced during the day can be stored and used to refill the car at night.” ES Pian your Autoplan \ with BCAA! 185-75-R14 All Se: BCAA aa rC.")) 1507 Columbia Ave., Castlegar * 365-2955 1986 NISSAN Pulsar 1973-77 DATSUN 710's 1973-77 DATSUN 610's 1978 DATSUN 510 four door Granite Road, Nelson Ph. 354-4802 Western Auto Wreckers -@ LICENSED MECHANIC TUNE-UPS - BRAKES - FULL SERVICE i RR #1, Raspberry, B.C. 365-3842 ae COURTESY USED AUTO PARTS = 24 Hour Towing New & Used Parts TRAIL AUTO BODY LTD. Complete Paint & Body Shop Glass Replacement Serving the Kootenays Since 1958 2316-6th Ave., Castlegar - 365-5114 “1992 MERCURY TOPAZ 4 dr., air, ony 125 km. $9,450 ABH CAR SALES 2913 Central Ave. Grand Forks, B.C. Ph. 442-2363 GORD'S. SERVICE CENTRE + MUFFLER LISFETIME WARRANTY + 4 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday 425-Columbia Ave., Castlegar - 365-6555 THE MUFFLER PEOPLE MISTER TIRE SALES + Complete Mechanical 480 Columbia Ave. Castlegar - 365-7145 693-2224 Between Castlegar and Trail Box 175, Genelle VOG 1GO ‘+ Brakes * Shocks + Alignment CASTLEGAR IMPQ)RT CENTER EXPERT SERVICE FOR DOMESTIC & IMPORT VEHICLES + EXHAUST SYSTEMS + + TUNE-UPS + BRAKES - eee RUST ARRESTER eerie | LICENCED MECHANIC Sign Design 365-5111 GRAPHICS + Pinstriping ° Vehicle Letteri GOVERNMENT INSPECTION FACILITY 365-0366 | « PROPANE SERVICE CENTER SASHA THE CROSSROADS OF THE KOOTEN YS SINCE 1947 - NewsFLASH Pa ms Uiyfal, »S V7 AN Sunny with a chance of showers and a thundershower today and Thursday. @ OUR PEOPLE News reporter Glen Free- man may be gone, but he’s not forgotten. Freeman provides his thoughts on Castlegar prior to heading back to university to complete a masters program. page 9 @ LOCAL SPORTS | The Valley Royals have done West Kootenay fastball enthusiasts proud. The Slocan Valley crew collected a medal at the provincial fastball championships in Kelowna over the weekend. page 12 @ ARTS & LEISURE Canada’s railway service may be on a steady decline, but Robert (Cal) Wilson is trying to keep the spirit alive. Wilson has made railway history his latest passion. preview 3 Farisde 2 Harrsion 6 Letters 7 Our People 8 Local Sports 12 Action Ads 15 Arts & Leisure preview3 Home Plan preview 5 Dining Guide _ preview 20 MONKEY SEE,