You may have read our earlier news item about Evonyx, the company that has bought two Insights and replaced the hybrid powertrain with their own fuel-cell (zinc-air battery) technology.

Their goal was to prove their technology by driving from New York City to Detroit. This is why they turned to the Insight, a car that has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible, with amazing aerodynamics, lightweight aluminum body and low rolling resistance tires.

When they attempted the New York to Detroit trip earlier this month, problems with their powertrain forced them to stop short at "only" 217 miles. Nonetheless, this has apparently set the record in the Guinness Book of World Records for distance travelled by a fuel-cell powered electric car. (Note that while Evonyx is claiming a World Record, in 1993 Honda did 1870 miles in a with an entirely electric car without stopping for a recharge.)

Although technical difficulties forced them to stop short of their goal of Detroit, they measured efficiency and the amount of zinc fuel consumed, and are convinced that the car would indeed be able to travel this distance. This is an encouraging sign of the possibility of future automotive propulsion technologies, and also a testament to the Insight's inherit low-energy body & chassis design.

For more information on Evonyx and the two Insights that they've converted, see: http://www.evonyx.com/evictory/