ITM Power shows off in-home hydrogen fueling station
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 9th 2008 4:38PM
posted July 9th 2008 4:38PM
Hydrogen cars may not be quite as in favor as hybrids or all-electrics these days, but ITM Power looks to be doing its best to at least make 'em a bit more convenient, with it now showing off a re-fueling station that it says could be installed in the home. Like similar systems, this one makes use of an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen gas from water and electricity, which can also be converted back into electricity with the aid of an internal combustion generator to provide power to the house. You'll only be able to produce enough gas overnight to travel about 25 miles, however, but the company (like so many others) foresees higher-pressure refueling units being installed in public places, which'd be able to provide enough gas to travel 100 miles. While there's no firm word on a release for the home unit, ITM says it "could" be commercially available as soon as this year, and it says the price could eventually get down to around £2,000 (or about $4,000) if they're mass produced.
I *love* that idea, if it weren't for the fact that all of LV's waste-water is reused anyway, and Nevada could never win a war with California to get more. And "algae farming' is water-intensive, so maybe that would be a good thing for someplace that's not a frickin' desert.
Oops - if you were being ironic, then I'm an idiot. If not . . . .
When we get the Electric Car back, The Saudis will soon crumble and go broke. For now let them enjoy their riches.
I seriously wish people would look at all this in a logical progression.
So, we ALREADY have fresh water problems in some areas at some times, you know, that thing you have to DRINK every once in a while to live?
So the plan is to put EVEN MORE strain on our water supply and system by extracting the power for our cars from it? Or are we going to build huuuuge desalination plants and huuuuge pipes to send water everywhere?
So, you pay for your water from the local DPW, you pay for your Electricity to make the water into hydrogen, plus we teach granny how to be carefull with her Hydrogen producing station so she doesn't blow up the neighborhood, etc etc etc..
We have SO much more energy we can get out gas. The automakers just haven't had thier "manhattan project" yet like Boing is doing with the composite 787. Gasoline isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/home-energy-station.aspx
For Honda's Hydrogen powered cars they promot a device that will produce hydrogen from the natural gas line coming into your house. Of course if your house is all electric then this won't be an option...
Hear that sound? It's the collapsing American electric grid under the massive assault by EV's and electrolysis equipment. Crap California can barely keep the lights on now! What's going to happen when all those Left Coast nut jobs get their hands on electric vehicles in mass? The only answer is bio fuels produce from waste vegetation.
Or Nevada pond scum.
Biofuels will help run the generators that charge the electric cars. Internal combustion engines for cars are dying. Electricity is simply the only universal fuel that makes sense.
WRT the grid collapsing, this is a real problem that has real solutions already in the works. Night charging is the most universal and effective, but vehicle-to-grid technology can and will help level the load as will high-capacity battery and superconductor load leveling stations. There will need to be more power generation stations (of varying types) to supply the net increase in demand, but this is well within the realm of feasibility given the slow speed with which ICE's will be supplanted. These solutions are MUCH easier to solve than those facing the "hydrogen economy."
Paul I don't see the Otto cycle engine going away in our lifetime, it is just too convenient. The fuel used is vastly superior to any other in terms of storage, transportation, distribution and for the most part energy content. We need to find a means, like algae or bacterial transformation, to create a low carbon footprint based fuel that mimics good old diesel. We really need to quite wasting precious money, man power and time chasing the perfect zero emission vehicle. One last point, when people are charging their cars or splitting their water where is that power coming from? Short term, Coal fired power plants for the most part, wind and solar are to rare and nuclear take for ever to build. Increase the demand for electricity and you will get more burnt coal! I will say this, the last time I was at Navajo Station I got quite an earful on the cleanliness of their stack output. They were working on CO2 sequestration in a local aquifer at -6000 feet so if they are an average station I'd say coal wasn't as bad as the greens make it out to be.
Oh, the Humanity!
By the time you factor in the costs to purchase and run this station in your home, you would be spending more money then just having an electric car..
Not to mention the costs of the car. EVs are expensive, but that price pales in comparison to the price of a hydrogen car.
This is good news for hydrogen though I suppose.
Actually my problem with electrics is logistical. I have to park on the streets at night and there simply isn't a realistic way of me owning an all-electric. Hydrogen vehicle makes much much more sense, but neither technology is up to par with the mileage you can get on a tank of gas (that is, comparing to my Honda Civic). Also, the car has to be able to haul 4 adults minimum.
Do you think that you could only charge your electric car from your home power outlet? Actually, many owners will be charging their vehicles at stations as they do today. There are some pretty big advantages to large charging stations--true quick charging in 5 to 10 minutes being one. At home, you're looking at hours even if you have a special 220 volt / 80 Amp outlet. I'm sure you'll pay a bit more at the "pump," but it'll still be vastly less than an equivalent gas fill-up.
Anyway, it isn't a logistical problem at all once fuel stations (or grocery stores or whatnot) start offering charging stations. Some already do and I guarantee you that universal availability of electric charging stations will occur much faster than similar availability of hydrogen fueling stations.
If anyone has seen the flick "Who Killed The Electric Car?" You'll understand why I take this with a grain of salt...
I think we should mine copper from asteroids and use it to build a giant copper coil in space that runs along the circumference of earth's orbit. As the Earth makes its orbit, the electromagnetic field of the planet will push electrons through the coil. Then we can tap it for electricity.
So why aren't more people looking at this guys for their hydro needs?
http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=holtebook8
I'm ready to buy in.