Mazda is sending 30 Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles to Norway next summer, the first time the company has sold hydrogen vehicles outside of Japan. The buyer is HyNor (the Hydrogen Road of Norway), which is a Norwegian national project that is also running some hydrogen-powered Priuses, converted by Quantum.

HyNor is a 580 km stretch of highway between Oslo and Stavanger that is going to become a hydrogen travel corridor. This route was chosen because a.) it's a major route and b.) "Challenging transport conditions due to large variances in climate and topography, and where the prosjektme in particular will demonstrate the functionalities of hydrogen energy in transport under conditions of large seasonal fluctuations and cold ambient temperatures," according to the HyNor project's official website. The hydrogen infrastructure on the HyNor is intended to be used by "various means of transport: buses, taxis and private cars and varying types of transport systems: urban, inter-city, regional and even long-distance national transport."

More from Mazda after the jump.

Related:

• Mazda's RX-8 Hydrogen RE hits the snow and ice for the first time
• Eleven more hydrogen Priuses from Quantum now driving Norway's Hydrogen Highway
• Miljobil Grenland AS takes delivery of four hydrogen-fueled Pruis hybrids in Norway
• Tokyo Motor Show: Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE hybrid

[Source: Mazda, HyNor]

The cars from the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show aren't news to any of us at this point, but we can now gawk anew at the Pivo 2 and the CR-Z hybrid, the Lexus LF-Xh and the Subaru G4e (above) in screen-saver quality phots. Other vehicles our new gallery include the Toyota 1/X Concept, the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid and the Audi metroproject quattro design study. You can click on any of the names highlighted above to see high-resolution photos or on one of the thumbnails below and scan your way through all 45 images.

I swear, Honda's soon-to-be-produced CR-Z looks better each time I look at it. You?


[Source: Newspress]

Mazda has been leasing a version of their RX8 in Japan with a hydrogen fueled rotary engine since '06. At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda will be showing a new version of their Hydrogen-RE Hybrid model, and instead of being housed in the RX8 shell, it will be featured in the Premacy. The rotary engine is capable of running for 124 miles, doubling the range of their last model, and charges a lithium ion battery pack the electric motor. Regenerative braking is also featured on this model. In case you were wondering, no - you cannot lease one in the U.S., only Japan. At $3,500 a month, we doubt that Mazda is planning on leasing very many of them anyway.

It's worth noting that hydrogen, although cleaner burning than gasoline, carries much less energy than petroleum fuels. That's why the range, though improved, is still far less then that of the gasoline rotary-powered vehicle.

Related:

• Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid Concept: Eco-friendly rotary power
• Mazda to show a revised RX8 with gas/hydrogen hybrid engine in Tokyo
• Some potential rotary news for you rotorheads
• Mazda hydrogen-powered RX-8 seen outside Japan for first time
• Mazda's 15-year quest for hydrogen vehicles