World's Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell

On August 11, Ballard Power Systems announced the deployment of the largest hydrogen fuel cell in the world. This first time deployment demonstrates the viability of clean energy on a large scale.

The fuel cell is the size of a tractor trailer and is completely transportable. It is capable of generating up to one megawatt of power which is enough to power 500 homes or the equivalent of a small town.

The Fuel cell will travel from its manufacturer Ballard Power Systems in Burnaby, B.C., to FirstEnergy Generation Corp, in Eastlake, Ohio for a five year trial run. The utility plans to run the fuel cell during periods of peak demand, to ensure uninterrupted power to customers.

This fuel cell generator is known as CLEARgen(TM) and it is based on Ballard's proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology. As a transportable technology it can replace dirty diesel generators with clean energy solutions in remote communities.It's also capable of running off by-product hydrogen from chemical plants.

Ballard provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. Ballard fuel cells are powering zero-emission bus fleets, providing backup power solutions to cell phone companies and powering fleets of forklift trucks at major distribution centers.
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Honda's Hydrogen Powered FCX Clarity FCEV

Honda's FCX Clarity FCEV is a hydrogen powered electric car. The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity that powers the Honda E-Drive electric motor. Water vapour is the car's only emission.

Compared to previous generations of fuel cell vehicles the Clarity is over 397 pounds lighter and has 120% better power-to-weight ratio. The powerplant is 20 percent more fuel efficient, 45 percent more compact and 10 percent more energy efficient.

The FCX Clarity's compact and lightweight lithium-ion battery is used as a supplemental power source capturing lost energy during deceleration and braking.

This is a car that does much more than offer good performance and aerodynamic styling, it take safety very seriously. The FCX Clarity has reinforced unit-body structure, stability assist and a collision mitigation braking system.

The Clarity will come with the option of a home refueling solar array. Eight hours of home refueling will give the car enough range for the average commute, 30 miles (50 km). At a "fast-fill" public station, five-minute of refueling gives the vehicle a range of 240 miles.

The car is likely to be sold commercially around 2018 in the luxury large sedan category. This is a car that may very well offer us a glimpse into the automotive future.
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Honda's Solar-Hydrogen Powered Future

Honda is using sunlight to enhance its role as the hydrogen power leader. Earlier this year Honda announced its intention to pursue a solar-hydrogen refueling station project. Honda is betting on the clean combination of solar and hydrogen as the fuel of choice for zero emission cars.

Many automakers have spent billions of dollars in researching hydrogen powered fuel cells without producing a hydrogen powered vehicle for public consumption. Honda's production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles demonstrate the company's commitment to hydrogen. The company also debuted a hydrogen refueling breakthrough that it claims will eventually allow for the development of a home station.

With the exception of a handful in Southern California, there is very little hydrogen refueling infrastructure in the US. This is one of the big barriers to hydrogen car deployment, which is why Honda expects its vehicles to use a combination of public stations and a home option.

Honda's home option is a solar powered hydrogen refueling station. A six-kilowatt solar array powers an electrolyzer that splits water molecules into hydrogen atoms. Home refueling takes eight hours of charging for an average commute (30 miles or 50 km). At a "fast-fill" public station, five-minutes of refueling enables a vehicle to travel 240 miles.

A solar hydrogen refueling system could move beyond the research stage and into the market-ready phase as soon as 2015.

One of the things that makes hydrogen so desirable is its small size and low weight. Honda's current electricity generator known as a hydrogen "stack", is around the size of a briefcase.

Hybrids and battery powered fully electric vehicles appear to be dominating the greener car marketplace, but as energy prices rise, hydrogen powered vehicles will become increasingly attractive.

Once hydrogen vehicles approximate price parity, the allure of a car that is powered by sunlight and emits only water vapor, will prove irresistible.
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Next: Honda's Hydrogen Powered FCX Clarity FCEV

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