Solar Hydrogen Station with the Honda FCX Clarity
Honda has started action in creating the next generation of solar hydrogen station prototypes. This operation is based at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. So would we be expecting to see change at our local gas stations anytime soon? Probably not for a few years, in fact this is designed to be a “home refuelling appliance capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles.”
A few posts ago in the “2 Green Thumbs Up for Honda Canada”, we mentioned the Honda FXC Clarity. The Honda FCX Clarity has an electric engine and uses fuel cells that deliver 100 kWh of energy, and is known as a “green car” which is safe for the environment. Well this solar hydrogen station is what the FCX Clarity would use to refuel. In the future, owners of the solar hydrogen station can perform an 8 hour overnight fill which should last about a day’s worth of driving (10,000 miles per year). Although plans for the station isn’t only for overnight fuelling; the station has been developed in order to “complement a public network of fast fill hydrogen stations” A vehicle like the Honda FCX Clarity is “fast fill capable”, and having fast fill public stations allow for 5-minute fuelling time, thus allowing for longer trips instead of just the regular daily drive to work or the mall. Some of you may think Honda has been bias by creating this station; furthermore only for the FCX Clarity, but the solar hydrogen is compatible for any fuel cell electric vehicle.
The designers of the solar hydrogen station have made sure it’s easy to use, unlike the tangled and wrapped gas hose coils many drivers face at the pump, the solar hydrogen station won’t cause any stress.
The designers have made this station user-friendly, easy to lift and remove and drivers won’t have to worry about the hose getting tangled and coiled up. Space was always a factor when creating the solar hydrogen station. It has been “Designed as a single, integrated unit to fit in the user’s garage, Honda’s next generation Solar Hydrogen Station reduces the size of the system, while producing enough hydrogen (0.5kg) via an 8-hour overnight fill for daily commuting (10,000 miles per year) for a fuel cell electric vehicle.”
To read more about the development and process of the solar hydrogen station check the World Honda website and take a look at this article here taken from Honda.com
Touch Screen
Solar Hydrogen Station
User-friendly
