Designed as a single, integrated unit to fit in the user’s garage, Honda’s Solar Hydrogen station reduces the size of the system, while producing hydrogen (0.5kg) via an eight hour overnight fill for daily commuting (10,000 miles per year) for a fuel cell electric vehicle, the company said.
The previous solar hydrogen station system required both an electrolyzer and a separate compressor unit to create high pressure hydrogen. The compressor was large and expensive component and reduced system efficiency.
The company said that by creating a differential pressure electrolyzer, Honda engineers were able to eliminate the compressor entirely. This also reduces the size of other key components to make the new station compact, while improving system efficiency by more than 25% compared to the solar hydrogen station system it replaces..
Compatible with a smart grid energy system, the Honda Solar Hydrogen station would enable users to refill their vehicle overnight without the requirement of hydrogen storage, which would lower CO2 emissions by using loff-peak electrical power, claimed the company.
During daytime peak power times, the Solar Hydrogen station can export renewable electricity to the grid, providing a cost benefit to the customer, while remaining energy neutral.
The intuitive system layout enables the user to lift and remove the fuel hose, with no hose coiling when the hose is returned to the dispenser unit. As with the previous generation system, the hydrogen purity from the new station meets the SAE (J2719) and ISO (14687) specification, the company said.
Installed at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, the new Solar Hydrogen Station will employ the same 48 panel, 6.0kW solar array that powered the previous system.
The array utilizes thin film solar cells composed of copper, indium, gallium and selenium produced by Honda Soltec, a subsidiary of Honda. Honda’s solar cells reduce the amount of CO2 generated during production as compared to conventional solar cells, the company claimed.
The company claimed that the Honda FCX Clarity electric vehicle is fast fill capable and offers an EPA-estimated driving range of 240 miles. Honda began operation of its first Solar Hydrogen Station at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas in 2001.
