UK drivers wishing to skip battery electric vehicles while maintaining "zero-emissions" motoring now have a new alternative since Honda has opened the UK's first public-access hydrogen refueling station. Ironically, no automakers offer a fuel cell vehicle in the UK, not even Honda.

At the moment, Honda has "no plans" to sell the FCX Clarity in the UK, so we'd argue the hydrogen fueling station is pointless, but Honda says it's not. The Japanese automaker sees the station – located at Honda's Swindon facility and paid for by chemicals company BOC – as a rally cry to the government to kick start a hydrogen infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Honda's chief of electrical powertrain development, Thomas Brachmann, says fuel cell vehicles meet "environmental demands but also deliver the range and performance that customers expect." Perhaps Honda is making sure the UK is ready for future, which the automaker claims will include the "ultimate transport solution" (in other words, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles).

via AutoBlog

The Tesla Model S is a full-sized battery electric sedan in development by Tesla Motors. It is an electric car that was codenamed WhiteStar during research and preliminary development. It was announced in a press release on June 30, 2008. The prototype vehicle was displayed at a press conference on March 26, 2009.

Production for the retail market is expected to begin in mid 2012, with a base price of US$57,400. The base model will have a range of 160 miles (260 km) when fully charged, and a 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration of 5.6 seconds. The premium Signature Series will have a larger battery pack available with ranges of 230 and 300 miles (370 and 480 km). The first 1,000 cars to be produced will be of the premium version. Normal charging times will be 3 to 5 hours, depending on the battery capacity, and a 45-minute QuickCharge will be possible when connected to a 480 V outlet. In addition, a battery swap will be possible in less than two minutes.

The Model S is being designed as a high performance electric sedan, competing with such cars as the BMW 5-series. This is primarily in order to justify the high costs of high density lithium ion batteries. This business model follows that of the high performance Tesla Roadster sports car, which has a base price of US$109,000 or €99,000.

On July 9th, the first student-designed and built hydrogen racing car was unveiled in The Hague. The hydrogen vehicle, called the Forze IV, was created by students at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands and will be racing in the upcoming Formula Student; a race between 500 cars designed by students around the world. The Forze IV will be the first and only car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell in the race.

“We are the first team in this worldwide competition to race using a hydrogen fuel cell. That’s a huge technical challenge in a racing car,” says team manager Wouter Krul.

The hydrogen fuel cell provides electricity to the car and the only byproduct of the reaction within the engine is water. “This racing car is the first of its size to be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell,” says Krul. “The hydrogen car has a maximum speed of 120 km per hour and accelerates just as fast as a Porsche.”

The team of 50 students that developed the car have been working for 3 years with hydrogen fuel-cell powered automobiles, and their previous attempts have been more like go-carts than racing cars. This year they stepped it up a notch with the Forze IV which has a complex suspension, a race car-like body and a new hydrogen fuel cell designed completely by the students involved.

The team from Delft University has been participating in the Formula Student since 2000 and last year won the race with their ultra-light bio-ethanol powered racing car.

At January's Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz eagerly showed off its hydrogen-powered F-Cell car, vowing to prove the viability of fuel-cell vehicles by driving three of them around the world. And now, 18,641 total miles later, it's completed that circumnavigation, arriving safely home at the company's Stuttgart headquarters. Does this prove fuel-cells are ready for prime time? Well, the trip took 70 driving days to cover four continents, and the vehicles' range topped out at just over 400 miles -- in Kazahkstan. But M-B admits there are only 200 refilling stations worldwide; in most cases the F-Cells had to rely on a tag-along mobile refueling unit. The company hopes its demonstration will spur development in a refilling-station infrastructure: having a fuel-cell car you can't easily refuel must feel like owning a flying DeLorean in 1885. To get the full breakdown, see the Mercedes-Benz PR after the break.

From the Press Release:

Successful finish: F-CELL World Drive reaches Stuttgart after circling the globe

- Three B-Class F-CELL drive more than 30,000 km around the world
- Impressive proof of everyday usability of fuel-cell technology
- Reliable operation even under tough conditions
- Initial impetus for establishing hydrogen infrastructure
- 90,000 km covered with zero emissions

New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India Limited today launched the all-new Fluidic Verna. The new Verna bears Hyundai’s new design philosophy of ‘Fluidic Sculpture’.

Dynamic and Futuristic Design

The new Fluidic Verna pioneers a host of premium and futuristic design elements based on the Fluidic Sculpture Design Philosophy. The car’s futuristic design sports a coupe like side profile which is further refined by elegant and continuous character lines. On the front, the Verna displays the next generation hexagonal grille, eagle eye headlamps with wide air dam and distinctive ‘L’ shaped fog lamps that enhance the stance of the car.

The interiors have luxurious elements and textures including two-tone beige and black high gloss interiors with wood finish. One of the unique features of the Fluidic Verna is the cluster ionizer that improves the quality of air inside the cabin by producing ion-plasma that traps bacteria and other impurities and comes into operation automatically as the AC is switched on. The rear end of the car is fitted with dual chrome tipped exhaust which adds on to the sporty feel.

The centre front armrest comes with segment first sliding function, whereas both front and rear armrests have storage space. The car is loaded with fabulous infotainment system that supports Bluetooth connectivity and comes with features like Radio,CD,MP3,USB,Aux-in,i-Pod connectivity for unlimited music access. To make driving pleasurable in summers it has a Fully Automatic Temperature Control (FATC) system with a cooled glove-box.

Engine & Transmission

The new Fluidic Verna will be available with four engine options - 1.4 litre VTVT delivering 107PS@6300rpm of maximum power and 13.8Kgm@5000rpm of peak torque, the petrol 1.6 litre VTVT engine with 123PS@6300rpm maximum power and 15.8@4200rpm peak torque, the Common Rail diesel 1.4 litre CRDi with 90PS@4000rpm max power and 22.43kgm@1750 – 2750rpm of peak torque and the diesel 1.6 litre VGT CRDi, with range topping 128@4000rpm max power and 26.5kgm@1900-2750rpm of peak torque.