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The idea of having hydrogen powered cars is nothing new: the theory has been around pretty much since World War II.  However, there have always been several flaws in the practicality of using hydrogen as a source of power.  It is expensive and energy consuming to make it usable.  Hydrogen is also not widely available, the batteries are bulky, the cars are expensive and they usually look horrible. So why has Honda made a hydrogen supercar?

The FC Sport revealed at the LA Auto Show is the pinnacle of design and hydrogen technology, combining the two in some environmentally chic blender in a way that has a product that can still classify as a supercar.  This is, as Honda so aptly put it, “a glimpse of the future of the supercar.“

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American’s are begging for alternative energy sources as of late, especially in their cars if it’ll save them money over time (see the several months you have to wait for a new Prius).  Hydrogen to many seems to be the next sustainable energy source.  Only one problem: there are only 60 stations for hydrogen across the country, only two of which do not require an appointment.  Thanks to this, the country’s first hydrogen cross country trip required flatbed trucks to carry the car when it ran out of fuel. Part of the point of the trip was apparently to show that in order for hydrogen to become viable more stations are needed, and I guess they accomplished that. Traveling 1,000 miles or more on a flatbed truck severely increases the carbon footprint of hydrogen cars. 

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This new concept car is, to say the least, odd. In fact unless you were briefed beforehand it might take you a while to work out what it is; a concept car from Peugot cleverly disguised as a squashed drinks can. Nevertheless this façade is complimented by some very savvy specifications, some of which are given away by its name, the ‘Ozone’.

It’s name derives from the fact that its powered by ‘environmentally friendly’ hydrogen fuel cells which power the two electric motors, and in turn the large wheels which sit either side of the cabin. This two person cabin is both spacious and luxurious, and it goes some way to epitomizing the contemporary world in which we live today, which is only emphasized by the fact that this is controlled by a joystick!

However it is probably a good job that very few concept cars ever make it to mass production because this has many flaws that would make this very impractical. First, although the cabin doesn’t move when the car is moving when you brake hard, surely you would get at least a weird sensation? Also it would be somewhat disconcerting going at 70mph with two massive wheels 20cm away from your head, and these wheels surely also cause a safety issue if you were to hit someone? And also there are very few roads that would be wide enough to accommodate this car.

In conclusion: its a good concept, but little more than that due to its great practical shortfalls.

Via [GearFuse]

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