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Fuel cell electric vehicles can now use Honda’s solar hydrogen charging station prototype to recharge for the daily commute, approximately 10,000 miles per year.

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Designed to fit in a garage, the charger can refuel a fuel cell electric vehicle eight hours overnight with around 0.5  kilograms of hydrogen.

Conventional solar hydrogen chargers required both an electrolyzer, a device that gathers hydrogen molecules from water, and a separate compressor unit to create high pressure hydrogen. The compressor is said to be the most expensive component in the device and also reduces system efficiency.

For its new charging station, Honda re-engineered the electrolyzer to eliminate the compressor and drive down costs and size while improving system efficiency by more than 25 percent.

Users can refill their vehicle overnight using less expensive off-peak electrical power, eliminating the need for hydrogen storage. During daytime peak power times, the smart grid-compatible charging station can export the electricity produced from its 6-kilowatt solar panels to the grid.

The array utilizes thin-film solar cells produced by Honda Soltec Company, a subsidiary of Honda.

In addition, the new charging station complements Honda’s FCX Clarity electric vehicles. With fast public charging stations for longer trips and the prototype’s nighttime slow charging for homes, the fuel cell vehicle will be more flexible on the road.

The solar hydrogen station is housed at Honda R&D Americas Inc. in Los Angeles.

Source:ECOSEED; jAN.29.2010

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