Honda Opened a Solar Hydrogen Production Station

Honda put into operation a new plant in Los Angeles, solar hydrogen production.

Los Angeles Center of Honda R & D America has put into operation a prototype solar station that produces hydrogen for use of domestic, cells able to recharge electric vehicles with fuel cells.

Honda station prototype solar hydrogen production is a unique concept, integrated package for small to meet the user in the garage, and can produce enough hydrogen (0.5kg) in the 8 o'clock to fill the cells of fuel cell electric vehicle.

The former producer of solar hydrogen station needs both an electrolyzer and a compressor unit, separated, in order to produce hydrogen under pressure. The compressor was the largest and most expensive element of the whole structure and reduce the efficiency of the system. The design of a new electrolyzed with high pressure difference, Honda engineers have managed to eliminate compressor entirely - a world first for a system for domestic use.

This innovation also allows reducing the size of other components, such as new plant is the most compact system, while efficiency increases by more than 25% (value calculated according to simulations), compared with the previous system based on solar station hydrogen.

Compatible with a "Grid Intelligence", producing hydrogen Honda Solar station allows customers to refuel the vehicle overnight without the need to store hydrogen, a process that would reduce CO2 emissions by using less expensive electricity outside peak hours. During the day, at peak hours, Station Solar hydrogen can provide electricity network, providing a financial benefit to the user.

Mounted at the Honda Center in Los Angeles R & D, the new Solar System Honda hydrogen will use the same 48 solar panels, which are powered by 6.0kW previous system. Matrix uses thin film solar cell composed of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) produced by Honda Soltec Co., Inc., A wholly owned subsidiary of Honda, which was designed for mass production and sale of cell capable of generating efficient solar electricity.

Designed to meet the needs of future owners of electric vehicles with fuel cells, solar hydrogen system Honda has also been created to fill a public network of hydrogen fast food. Honda FCX Clarity, electric vehicle based on fuel cell is capable of rapid recharge, which offers a range of about 460 km (based on the European Driving Cycle). With public refueling stations that provide quick 5 minute enough fuel for longer trips and convenient opportunity to feed overnight at home using solar station connected to an intelligent network, Honda FCX Clarity can cover a wide range of requirements the roads daily trips on weekends.

Combining a fuel cell electric vehicle with a solar hydrogen station could create a society that uses hydrogen based on renewable energy leading to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions and more sustainable energy.