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Forum » Prototype Forums (EV's, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, Petrol, Diesel) » The Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Forum

Honda creating home system for drivers to make hydrogen

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Written on: 10. 11. 07 [15:56]
ecoadmin Administrator Topic creator registered since: 20.07.2007 Posts: 387	Honda Motor, aiming to start mass production of fuel-cell cars by about 2015, is developing a system using solar energy for drivers to make hydrogen at home to fuel such vehicles. Individual production of hydrogen would let people refuel their cars without waiting for a network of stations to be set up, the company's president, Takeo Fukui, said. Automakers, under pressure to cut carbon dioxide emissions tied to global warming and tailpipe exhaust, are seeking alternatives to oil as prices approach $100 a barrel. Honda, Toyota Motor and General Motors have all said hydrogen powered autos are a long-term option, though they are costly to build and lack a refueling infrastructure. "Our ultimate goal is to use a renewable source of energy as a source of fuel," Masaaki Kato, the president of research and development at Honda, said. "So we use solar panels to generate electricity and we use the electricity to produce hydrogen." Honda, the second-largest automaker in Japan, plans Wednesday to unveil a fuel-cell vehicle based on its prototype FCX sports car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In 2008, the new car initially will be leased "to fewer than 100" people, most in California, Fukui said Oct. 23. While producing hydrogen from solar-powered electrolysis would cut carbon dioxide emissions, it is not yet possible to do it cheaply or in sufficient quantity, said a chemistry professor, Nate Lewis, who is also an energy researcher at the California Institute of Technology. "You need to do that cheaply and scalably - neither of which we are even close to being able to do technically now," Lewis said. Honda began selling solar panels in Japan earlier this year to make electricity for homes. The panels, priced at ¥57,500, or $509, each, substitute a thin metal layer for silicone typically used in photovoltaic panels to reduce production costs and lower the energy needed to make them, Honda said. Honda has no "specific" plan to commercialize a home-based hydrogen-generation system, Kato said. Still, it could be ready for consumers within 10 years, according to Fukui. "We believe this should bring a breakthrough in providing infrastructure for fuel-cell vehicles," Fukui said. Source: http://www.iht.com ecocarforum.com - Green Car Network Community for sustainable transport
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Written on: 26. 03. 08 [21:19]
jstack6 registered since: 27.10.2007 Posts: 30	The Honda fil station takes natural gas and makes it into hydrogen. We hit peak NG in 2004. Honda took the EVplus at 30K and 100+ mile range and made it into the FCX at 1 million with no H2 infrastruce. It takes 4x more energy to go a mile in the FCX as the EVplus. The EVplus could plug in any place. I feel Honda missed the mark big time. They seem to be following the incentives which are now on H2. Lithium is the best choice.
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Written on: 27. 03. 08 [12:15]
ecoadmin Administrator Topic creator registered since: 20.07.2007 Posts: 387	I fully agree with you jstack. It seems the market is confused and big manufacturers are dragging their feet... Interesting to know that the US hit peak NG in 2004...I simply cannot trust Honda, GM & Co. any longer. There are many good examples out there on how to reduce emissions, but there is also a lot of 'greenwashing' going on. For the average man/woman on the street it is becoming increasingly difficult to see thru the jungle of 'green alternatives'. Regards, Stefan ecocarforum.com - Green Car Network Community for sustainable transport
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