"Astounding" car of the future
January 23, 2006
As part of the 19th annual Astounding Inventions Fair at the college on Saturday, Jan 28., the Air Quality Management District will display a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV) which uses hydrogen instead of gasoline to power a an engine as robust as any conventional combustion engine. The zero emissions vehicle is built on a Toyota Highlander chassis and converts hydrogen fuel into electricity to power the motor. The sole emission generated by the vehicle is water vapor.
Irvine is the first city in the nation to participate in the Toyota FCHV pilot program. The AQMD acquired the vehicle as part of its efforts to promote environmentally friendly transportation, and it has been used by employees since August 2005. There are only 20 FCHVs in use, each with a price tag of $1 million.
The hydrogen car uses the kind of cutting-edge technology that the college puts on display each year for eager youngsters and curious adults who attend the invention fair. The event features inventions made by elementary and middle school students in the Irvine Unified and Tustin Unified school districts. The fair promotes science and mathematics education.
In addition to the hydrogen car, the fair will include the Cal State Long Beach Mobile Science Museum, an earthquake demonstration, a “Mad Chemists” demonstration, and exhibits by the Discovery Science Center and the Planetary Science Institute.
The Astounding Inventions Fair will begin at 9:30 a.m. For information, call (949) 451-5290.