Toyota has unveiled plans to innovate the traditional internal combustion engine by using green fuels like hydrogen and bioethanol, and integrating them with electric motors in hybrids. This move comes as many automakers push for fully electric vehicles. Toyota's new engines aim to support the transition to carbon neutrality while addressing the economic and social impacts of a sudden shift to electric cars. Domestic allies Subaru and Mazda also showcased their ecological engine advancements. However, details on market availability were not disclosed.
Beijing-based company Landspace Technology successfully launched their Zhuque-2 rocket, powered by clean-burning methane-liquid oxygen fuel, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, marking the first successful satellite launch for the company and a significant milestone for the Chinese space industry. Landspace also revealed plans for a new stainless steel rocket, the Zhuque-3.
Hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in greening Hong Kong's public road transport, but challenges such as safety, reliability, and cost need to be addressed for its commercialization. While hydrogen derived from fossil fuels has zero roadside emissions, its production carbon footprint remains substantial. The production of "green" hydrogen using renewable energy is expensive and requires the development of a supply chain. The mass commercialization of hydrogen vehicles in Hong Kong and other markets faces uncertainties in resolving technological and cost barriers. Supply chain challenges, including storage and transport, need to be tackled. Hong Kong is considering options such as bringing supplies from Guangdong province initially and exploring long-term solutions like long-distance piping or importing green hydrogen by tankers.
The hydrogen stock bubble has burst, but investment firm Bernstein suggests taking a second look at this potential $2 trillion green fuel source. Despite the recent decline in hydrogen stocks, Bernstein believes that the long-term prospects for hydrogen as an energy source remain promising. With increasing global focus on decarbonization and renewable energy, hydrogen could play a significant role in the transition to a greener future.
