UK's Birmingham University gets hydrogen filling station
Birmingham University is now home to Britain's first hydrogen filling station, part of a dozen planned to be installed by 2010. So far there are only a handful of hydrogen-fueled cars in the country but the university will be using this station to support ongoing research into hydrogen vehicles. Although Honda hasn't yet indicated any plans to offer the new FCX Clarity in the UK, Transport for London is pushing hard to get more stations opened in the area of the capital next year. If that happens, Honda may reconsider and offer the right hand drive Japanese version of the Clarity in Britain.
Gallery: LA 2007: 2009 Honda FCX Clarity
[Source: AutoCar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
A.Brien 10:28PM (4/18/2008)
Now that the hydrogen car technology are real and in place even if it's at a very small level the next step is to explore the hydrogen re-fueling technology. The best would be in my point of view to make water electrolysis at the point of sale. Some gearhead do it in their garage with plastic bowl and piece of stainless steel. A small machine that can do electrolysis and store some 50-100 kilos(220 pounds) and store it at 12 000 p.s.i should be sufficient, el-cheapo. The hydrogen station i've seen yet on internet seem over engineered, like liquid hydrogen. I think the fcx from honda just need 4 kilos at 10 000 p.s.i. Im sure that for 30 000 to 40 000$ someone can invent a working concept. Some station i've seen like the one in iceland look like 2 millions dollars, way overkill. Hydrogen fueling station is the next big thing that we will discuss for a lot of time if we don't died of a lack of foods,pollution, economic disaster, riots,security concerns, interest of the richs oil-politics-mad scientists before .
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ev 1:27AM (4/19/2008)
a.brien,
hydrogen is costly, there's no infrastructure, and it costs 3 times more than gasoline. So I think you'll have workable concept cars in abundance in the next 3 decades but none will be production possible.
Have you heard of the book called Hype about Hydrogen?
Electricity is one-fifth of gasoline or about one-fiftheenth of hydrogen or in dollars 2 cents for electricity, 15 cents for gas, and 45 cents approx for hydrogen.
Electricity is cheaper than gas, it already has an infrastructure, we just have to upgrade it with quick chargers, and EVs last much longer with practically no maintenance. So I'll bet that electricity will come alive sooner than later. Hydrogen will, IF by some miraculous intervention, come LATER than sooner.
Have you checked out project better place?
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/18/video-shai-agassis-amazing-speech-on-the-future-of-electric-ca/
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