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Honda - solar hydrogen prototype in Los Angeles
Transportation, Feb 18 2010 (The Hydrogen Journal)
- Honda has started operations for a solar powered hydrogen fuelling station, at the Los Angeles Center of Honda Research and Development Americas.
The power station is intended to used in people's homes, so they can fill up hydrogen vehicles themselves. The unit will fit in a garage.
The system has been designed so it does not need a compressor (the compressor was the largest and most expensive component).
The hydrogen (created by electrolysis of water, using electricity generated by solar power) will already be at a high enough pressure to transfer it into a vehicle's fuel tank, although it will take 8 hours to fill the fuel tank with 0.5kg hydrogen, enough for to propel the vehicle 27 miles, considered a typical there and back daily commute or vehicle use.
By removing the compressor, the overall system efficiency is increased by 25 per cent, and the size of the system is reduced.
The solar array would be 48 panel, generating 6 kW, using thin film solar cells composed of copper, indium, gallium and selenium, made by Honda Soltec Co.
