
Honda fuel cell refueller doubles as emergency home energy centre.
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2005 @ 20:10:48 UTC Topic: Devices
Source: just-auto.com editorial team, 15 November 2005
Honda R&D Americas and Plug Power have introduced the
third-generation Home Energy Station III, which could provide heat and
electricity for the home as well as fuel for a hydrogen-powered fuel
cell vehicle.
The third generation unit, located for demonstration and testing at the
company's North American headquarters in Torrance, California, is more
compact and efficient than previous models.
The Home Energy Station III uses natural gas as its base energy source.
Like the earlier models, it is designed for home-based refuelling and
is able to supply a "sufficient" amount of hydrogen to power a fuel
cell vehicle, such as Honda's own FCX, for daily operation while
providing electricity for an average-sized household.
A goal of this energy station is to provide high overall energy
efficiency and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the more
effective use of natural gas.
The Home Energy Station III is roughly 30% smaller than its predecessor
with an approximate 25% increase in electrical power output. Overall
performance increases with more energy-efficient operation, increased
hydrogen storage and production capacities, and a faster start-up time
of about one minute.
Additionally, hydrogen storage and production capacity are both
improved by about 50% with the use of a new, high-performance, natural
gas reformer. The unit is also able to function as a backup power
generation system during power outages by using the hydrogen in the
storage tank to power the internal fuel cell, providing as much as five
kilowatts of electrical power to the home in normal and emergency
conditions.
The Home Energy Station III will be tested in conjunction with the FCX at Honda's R&D Americas facility, also in Torrance.
Although the fuel cell refueller is not yet available to consumers,
Honda recently launched a device called Phill, which allows owners of
the natural gas-powered Civic GX sedan living in Southern California's
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to refuel their
cars at home.
Private owners of the Civic GX can get the home refuelling appliance at
no additional cost for four years without any additional commitment at
the end of the term.
SCAQMD and the California's Mobile Source Reduction Air Pollution
Reduction Review Committee are offering incentives of US $2,000 and
Honda will cover the remaining balance of the "Phill" lease.
Additionally, for qualified customers, Honda is offering installation
financing of up to $1,500.
Honda US Home Energy Station III
Honda Phill CNG home refuelling device
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