Hydrogen Fuel Cells Hit the Road

caffeined writes "Well, it looks like Honda is doing a real test of their fuel-cell car. A family in California is renting the car for $500/mo. Honda is charging them so that they take it seriously - an executive explained that if it were free they might not get the kind of feedback they want. If someone is paying for something and they're not happy - then you're going to hear about it. This is apparently the first fuel-cell car on the road anywhere in the world, according to Honda."

They picked this up from the software industry

[Anonymous Coward]

Forcing users to pay to beta test.

Theifs....

[GoodOmens]

I wonder who will be the first to car jack this million dollar test car and take it to Mexico.

Effects of Hydrogen?

[jgbishop]

What happens if a hydrogen-powered car is in an accident? Can the fuel cell 'rupture' and explode, ala The Hindenburg? If it can, then ...

Oh the humanity!

Its a bit pricy

[Silver Sloth]

From TFA
Spallino was at the wheel of his silver Honda FCX, a car worth about $1 million that looks like a cross between a compact - say, a Volkswagen Golf - and a cinder block.
For that sort of cash I'd like to get more that than a Volksie Golf, at least a Passat.

Re:Nice

[ceoyoyo]

No problem with road salt here, it's too cold. But I wonder how the thing's batteries will stand up to -40.

Re:Nice

[Slicebo]

Excellent point. At lower temperatures that hydrogen gas might get all liquid and slushy and get stuck in the pipes.

Sigh.

Fishing for ... complaints?

[adrenaline_junky]

If someone is paying for something and they're not happy - then you're going to hear about it.

So if you want honest feedback on your sexual prowess from your girlfriend then you should charge a fee, eh? Hmmm. I am intrigued by this concept and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Re:Nice

[AKAImBatman]

No kidding. I always hate it when the tempertures outside get below -200 C [harvard.edu]. Having to swim through the atmosphere [www.ucc.ie] makes me terribly cold by the time I get to work.

Re:People will pay for anything...

[schon]

Charge them $500 a month to have the car blow up upon impact and kill the whole family.

I think you have your car manufacturers mixed up.

This is Honda, not Ford [fordpinto.com]

Great news!

[digitaldc]

I will be one of the first to buy a hydrogen powered vehicle, its a great idea whose time has come!

No more wars, pollution and death for OIL!

Re:Don't hold your breath

[mblase]

According to the article, most manufacturers are still up in the air about this technology.

That's only because air is mostly made up of nitrogen, so hydrogen is naturally lighter. HA!

Okay, look, someone had to say it.

Re:Theifs....

[mblase]

I wonder who will be the first to car jack this million dollar test car and take it to Mexico.

Unless they can find another hydrogen refueling station somewhere on the way across the border, probably no one.

Re:They picked this up from the software industry

[Anonymous Coward]

I know it must work. I get paid for working and I don't take it seriously. My employer has to pay for me to work (which I don't) and they seem to take it very seriously.

Re:Fishing for ... complaints?

[Anonymous Coward]

From now on I'm gonna ask all girls I meet to pay me money for sex, and if they say "yeah right" I'll just tell them I read it on slashdot and they'll be all over me. Maybe all the years of slashdot reading is finally paying off

Re:Fishing for ... complaints?

[karnal]

All you have to do is marry said girlfriend. Then you'll hear all about your "shortcomings." Not just in the sack, mind you.

Re:Nice

[hamburger lady]

"But I wonder how the thing's batteries will stand up to -40."

depends, celsius or farenheit?

So...

[Faw]

... you live in Canada?

I would take a ride in this guys car

[Anonymous Coward]

I would rather ride his wife

Re:People will pay for anything...

[hamburger lady]

hah! that would rule, driving a giant yellow bottle to work. paint "XXX" on the side. no, wait, then people would think you're vin diesel.

i don't think anyone could reasonably argue that they hit you because 'they didn't see you'...'yeah, that jerk in the giant glowing yellow bottle just came outta nowhere'

Re:Ford had them in Vancouver first.

[EulerX07]

Vancouver isn't exactly the best testbed for "harsh winter conditions". Send one down to Yellowknife to really test it.

Re:Nice

[srussell]

They need to try this in more than warm, sunny southern California.

Yeah, say somewhere like... Pennsylvania. Now, if only we could find someone in Pennsylvania willing to do this sort of test... hmmm...

Oh, heck. For the good of the nation, I'll do it.

--- SER

P.S. For a low, low fee, I'm also available for testing the psychological effects of being given large amounts of cash; the long-term physiological effects of Segway use; and the ergonomics of ultra-high-end laptops.

Re:Sign me up!

[commodoresloat]

I've been trying to find an alternative fuel car that matches my lifestyle.

Me too! But so far I've had no luck finding a car that runs on cheap vodka.

Re:So...

[freeweed]

Hey! Up here we get to school by swimming through the atmosphere upstream! Both ways!

Re:Theifs....

[doublem]

... Or stole anything without understanding what they were stealing.

Remember, smart people don't resort to auto theft.

Smart criminals become accountants or energy firm executives.

Re:Yes, I think Honda would...

[cloudmaster]

I'd be happy with just a Hummer.

Re:Nice

[Anonymous Coward]

Thanks for clearing that up for us, Captain Obvious.

Its so much funnier when you explain the joke.

Re:Nice

[Anonymous Coward]

What's funniest about that post is that -40 is the same for both temperature scales.

That's pretty funny, but what's even MORE funny is that -40 celsius is actually the exact same temperature as -40 fahrenheit! Haha! I'm glad no one noticed that before me.

Re:Nice

[hey!]

No kidding. I always hate it when the tempertures outside get below -200 C. Having to swim through the atmosphere makes me terribly cold by the time I get to work.

On the plus side, if you're a carpenter you can drive nails with your pecker.