Appliance-like device may help solve problem of hydrogen supply for fuel
cell vehicles
TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda today announced that it
has begun using the Home Energy Station IV at its Honda R&D Americas, Inc.
facility in Torrance, California. This fourth-generation experimental unit
is designed to provide fuel for a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle, as
well as heat and electricity for a home. The new system is more compact and
efficient, with a lower operating cost than previous models. The
announcement coincides with the world debut of the all-new FCX Clarity
hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Honda's Home Energy Station technology is designed to facilitate the
broader adoption of zero-emissions fuel cell vehicles, like the FCX
Clarity, by developing a home refueling solution that makes efficient use
of a home's existing natural gas supply for production of hydrogen, while
providing heat and electricity to an average-size home.
The Home Energy Station IV can reduce both cost and carbon dioxide
(CO2) emissions for the consumer. Compared to the average U.S. consumer's
home with grid-supplied electricity and a gasoline-powered car, a home
using Home Energy Station IV to help produce heat and electricity and also
to refuel an FCX Clarity can reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 30
percent and energy costs by an estimated 50 percent.
"Honda is striving to address the need for a refueling infrastructure
for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles," said Ben Knight, vice president of Honda
R&D Americas. "The Home Energy Station represents one promising solution to
this issue, while offering the added benefit of heating and powering the
home more efficiently."
Working with technology partner, Plug Power, Inc., Honda began
operation of a Home Energy Station in October 2003. Home Energy Station IV
represents the latest evolution of the technology with a 70 percent
reduction in size compared to the first unit, making it even more suitable
for household installation. By combining gas purification and power
generation components, overall size reduction and efficiency gains are
achieved, while enabling it to switch from hydrogen refining to power
generation when needed.
Consumer information is available at http://www.honda.com.
SOURCE American Honda
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Sage Marie, +1-310-783-3163, or Christina Ra,
+1-310-783-3062, or Chuck Schifsky, +1-313-202-3150, or Chris
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for American Honda
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