Expos showcase future of renewable energy

The 5th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo kicked off on February 25 at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center in Koto Ward, one of the 23 most populous municipalities in Tokyo, Japan. A highlight of the expo was the one-seater Pac Car II, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. It was created by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Sony Corp. also exhibited its new “bio battery”, which generates electricity from carbohydrates or sugar, utilizing enzymes as its catalyst. Meanwhile, the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China, will also feature renewable energy technology. More than 1,000 environmentally friendly buses and cars, including hydrogen and fuel cell-powered cars, will be used to transport expo visitors in a bid to keep the Expo zone emission-free. (February 17/26, 2009)