Solar Charger,Solar Light,Solar Torch,Solar Bag,Export,Wholesale

You are here: Home

News

Solar Energy

Honda Opens New Solar Hydrogen Station in California

Honda Opens New Solar Hydrogen Station in California

Solar Energy

Saturday, 06 February 2010 13:46

When it comes time to refuel Honda's FCX Clarity fuel-cell car with hydrogen, the company is letting the sun shine in.

Last week, Honda announced that it had begun operating a "next generation" solar hydrogen refueling station, using Honda's own solar cells, at its Torrance research and development headquarters.
honda solar station

The new solar station is small enough to fit into a Clarity owner's garage, and that's its intended home. "We've eliminated the compressor, which was the largest and most expensive component," said a Honda spokesman, Chris Naughton. "The station pulls in solar energy during the day and then the customer can slow-fill with hydrogen over an eight-hour period at night."

Honda claims that its smaller station is the world's most compact, as well as the first home unit without a compressor.

The station uses 48 panels of thin-film Honda-developed cells to produce six kilowatts of electricity. It's designed to complement the network of public stations that California has endeavored to create as part of its "Hydrogen Highway," but which in practice is developing slowly.

Honda's Soltec panels are also being used by Dongfeng Honda in China, the company said, providing lighting and air-conditioning at an administrative facility. According to Honda, the Chinese panels are capable of generating 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, and can displace 101 tons of carbon dioxide.

According to Patrick Serfass, a spokesman for the National Hydrogen Association, "One of the benefits of hydrogen is that it can be made from a variety of different sources, including both renewable and traditional fuels. We applaud Honda for producing hydrogen renewably. At this point, fossil fuels are still very cheap, so it takes a commitment to advance the installation of renewable energy."

A solar hydrogen station in California was opened by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District in 2008, which according to a spokesman, Chris Capra, produced enough hydrogen for 14 fuel-cell vehicles. But, Mr. Capra said, it was closed down last fall when funding ran out.

Source: New York Times

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites