Mazda Launches First Hydrogen Filling Stations In Japan

Mazda Launches First Hydrogen Filling Stations In Japan
by: Jenny McLane

Mazda has always been a leader in innovation. It has pioneered some of the revolutionary technologies such as the rotary engine. Now that environmental conservation has become a more important issue than ever before, Mazda faces up to the challenge by fully supporting the development of eco-friendly automobiles. Hydrogen-fuel is one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly sources of energy. Mazda takes a big step forward in realizing a hydrogen-fueled society by launching the first hydrogen filling stations, located in Japan.

The new hydrogen filling station began operating last February 2005 and will store and supply fuel to the company's ongoing hydrogen vehicle research and development. The hydrogen filling station is located near Mazda's global headquarters in Hiroshima. This is the first filling station of its kind in the Chugoku region of western Japan.

High-pressure hydrogen gas is stored at about 2,900 psi in compressed hydrogen gas tanks. These are further pressurized to over 5,000 psi for delivery to the vehicles. The facility mainly supplies fuel to the company's hydrogen testing facility. Hydrogen rotary-engined vehicles that are currently on the road for development and testing purposes are also served by the filling station. The stored hydrogen in the fueling station can currently fuel up to 10 vehicles per day.

Mazda is leading the pack in the development of hydrogen rotary engines. Last year, Japan's Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) gave permission for the first public road tests of Mazda's RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary (H2RE). This is a rotary-engined, dual-fuel vehicle that runs on either hydrogen or traditional gasoline. With this hydrogen fueling station, Mazda will continue to develop hydrogen rotary engines with the goal of introducing such vehicles into the market in two years time.

Mazda is at the forefront of automotive technology. It is fully dedicated to the design and development of automobiles that are a whole new level above the rest. Meanwhile, maintenance and repair is very important to keep a Mazda vehicle in top condition. Replacement parts are a great choice if a Mazda owner wants to keep his car in excellent form. Replacing worn out or damaged parts is a good way to maintain a vehicle.

Incidentally, purchasing replacement parts has never been easier. Anyone can now have access to the best Mazda parts even in the comfort of their own homes. A quick visit to any of the dozens of online auto parts stores is all you need. One of the leading online auto parts stores is Auto Parts Train, based in California, USA. It has one of the largest inventories of Mazda auto parts in the country today. You can access their Online Mazda Parts Store at Mazda.

About The Author

Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.

jenny@partstrain.com

Japan and Hawaii

The population of tropical Hawaii is diverse, with a large proportion of people of Asian ancestry, including Japanese. Many of them are descendants from those waves of early foreign immigrants came to the islands in the nineteenth century, beginning in the 1850's, to work on the sugar plantations. On June 19, 1868, the first 153 Japanese immigrants arrived in Hawaii. They were brought in by a broker and the Tokugawa shogunatenot. Kalakaua, the last reigning King of the Kingdom of Hawaii, visited Japan in 1881 and petitioned Emperor Meiji, resulting in the first government-approved immigrants who arrived in Hawaii on February 9, 1885.

Japanese is the third-most spoken language in Hawaii. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 4.96% of Hawaii residents age 5 and older speak Japanese at home. Hawaii has an active sister state program, which includes ties to Ehime, Japan (2003), Fukuoka (1981) and Hiroshima, (1997). Japanese can also be proud of Eric Shinseki, the first Japanese American and Asian American member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Japan can be cold in autumn and winter, and Japanese wishing for warmer weather should visit tropical Hawaii for a nice holiday. Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being and provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people. Well, when you visit Hawaii, you are doing exactly that. The only thing is, travel from Japan to Hawaii involves air travel and that means CO2 emission. Fortunately there are ways to offset that and sites like Carbon Emissions Offset Directory have a list of sites that helps you with that.

If you plan to visit Hawaii, it would be advisable to book accommodation in advance, and this can be done online via Hawaiian Beach Rentals.

Hawaii comprises six main islands - Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii's Big Island. Kauai is the oldest of Hawaii's main islands and has a wide variety of plant, marine and animal life, including some rare endangered species like the Nene Goose (the official state bird). It also has Hawaii's only freshwater fish, the oopu. Japanese are fond of golf and Kauai have some of Hawaii's best golf courses.

For accommodation, you have a choice of Kauai Vacation Rentals (currently 226 to chose from), Kauai Condominiums (267 of them) and Kauai Hotels (105 to chose from).