Company Unveils Home-Based Hydrogen Refueling Station
One of the main barriers to the widespread adoption of fuel cell vehicles has been the lack of an adequate hydrogen-refueling infrastructure. Beyond a handful of hydrogen stations, such as the one near Los Angeles International Airport, there just isn’t anywhere to fill up.
This has resulted in a kind of chicken-and-egg situation, where car companies, such as fuel-cell pioneers Honda, are reluctant to mass-produce hydrogen-powered cars until a comprehensive refueling system is established, and infrastructure providers won’t move until there are enough cars to make stations economically viable.
Step forward ITM Power, a UK company that has developed a hydrogen refueling station that could be installed at home, providing a ready-made solution for fuel-cell car owners.
- » See also: Copenhagen Opens First Hydrogen Fueling Station, Unveils Fleet of Fuel Cell Cars
- » Get Gas 2.0 by RSS or sign up by email.
The station works via an electrolyser, which produces the gas from water and electricity, providing enough hydrogen overnight to fuel a 25 mile journey. If required, the unit, which has been tested on a converted Ford Focus, can also convert the gas back into electricity for use in the home.
According to Chief Executive Jim Heathcote, the unit, which is currently only a prototype, could be produced on a commercial scale by the end of the year, at an initial cost of £2,000 (around $4,000). He also anticipates that home-based systems could eventually be supplemented by more powerful stations in public places, capable of producing enough hydrogen for a 100 mile journey.
Speaking at a showcase launch event in Sheffield he said, “Given the pressing need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, especially oil, and to cut CO2 emissions, the future for hydrogen as an alternative means of storing and utilising energy cost-effectively has never been brighter.”
Posts Related to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles:
- Honda Begins “Production” of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle
- Revolution in Hydrogen Cars - 650 Miles Per Tank
- GM Backs Hydrogen Refueling Station Near LA
- VW Debuts Tiguan HyMotion Fuel-Cell Vehicle and 2009 Clean Diesel Jetta
- Toyota Announces New 516-Mile Range Fuel-Cell/Electric Hybrid
Image Credit - ITM Power
Aha, so hydrogen CAN be produced from electrolysis of water? What about all those articles that were published saying it cannot happen and all the talk about it was nothing but scam.
regular tech guys, so I’m gonna ask a question. I’m sure most of you would have heard about water4gas and nobody believes it. Just check out the explanation given on this website below, it referres to a piece of research done at MIT. They say, hydrogen gotten by electrolysis of water cannot be giving the energy, but instead hydrogen combusts easily and quickly and this improves the combustion environment inside the engine so that gasoline burn rate is improved. I don’t know how good I was in explaining that, but this website does a pretty good job, check out http://water4gasscam.bestdealsreviews.com/hydrogen_cars.html and please post what you think about this science here. Cheers!
You guys on here look like ‘more than’
Theres a guy with a prototype house which uses 10kw of solar panels on a garage that generates 160% more energy than his house needs. He uses the rest to power electrolysers and fills up to 10 massive tanks which can power his house for 3 months. I’m assuming it can also fuel his car up every night. have a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEdQRVQtffw&feature=related
Yeah, really, what is the point…which has already been said, it’s the American way to make profit off of something..kinda like how corporations are already starting to make profit of this whole “Green” movement by commercializing it…so I will ask what has already been asked..WHY NOT USE BATTERIES? unless, of course..someone stands to profit from it…
The point is that I can pull up to a hydrogen station and have a full tank in minutes. Or, you can have a full electric car and wait hours for a full charge.
Hydrogen car benefits medium to long range and irregular lifestyle.
Electric car benefits short range and predictable lifestyle.
Hydrogen cars. Hmmm
Certainly a viable alternative, however it won’t become mainstream any time soon. Not until Governments have put in place massive tax levvies for using such technologies.
The irony, paying for the most abundant material in the Universe.
Check out the Joe Cell device, now that really is promising.
Regards
SolReka
Brighter Energy Solutions
I have been looking for in formation to conver my ford explore but I’m at a dead end. is there any place on south florida?
[...] and actual progress in hydrogen producing stations that are placed within a home. Such as this.. Company Unveils Home-Based Hydrogen Refueling Station : Gas 2.0 Although the output is relatively low for 25 miles worth of hydrogen…But it would 100% cut [...]
[...] Extracted from Gas 2.0: [...]
This is a great start, especially if you use wind or solar power to power it. From reports around the internet this does seem to be the way it is going. All hail green energy I say!
Storage of H2 is a bugaboo! Creating it using electricity has been resolved by and American girl, who uses urine and iron electrodes, and a very low current for copious amounts of H2 and O2,compared to electrolysis of the ordinary type, both gasses are very valuable as fuels! Storage of practical amounts for more than a day or two, at high pressures, is very difficult and expensive, although they both make ideal fuels for fuel cells, with no chemical degradation, and the same applies to the three moving part electric automotive motor,ideal as opposed to the millions of pieces used in gasoline/hydraulic transmission setups in current use! Recycling of Li batteries make them a contender too!