Hydrogen Fueling Stations
Hydrogen fueling stations are one of the most important considerations
when building an H2-based economy. Without the proper infrastructure,
which includes the manufacturing, storage, distribution and final
consumer retail outlets, the hydrogen highway will fail. Providing
hydrogen fueling stations across the highway, byways and city
ways of country is vital in achieving a hydrogen-based automotive
industry.
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California Hydrogen Fueling Stations |
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So far, California has taken the lead with 16 operational hydrogen
fueling stations built and another 15 stations planned. In 2005,
California had budgeted $6.5 million to fund the California Hydrogen
Highway Network (CaH2Net) Blueprint Plan. The money was to go
for hydrogen fueling stations, demonstration projects and the
purchase of a variety of hydrogen fuel vehicles. In 2006, California
is once again proposing the same amount of money for the same
types of hydrogen-related projects.
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At the grand opening of AQMD's Hydrogen Fueling
Station in Diamond Bar, from left to right are DaimlerChrylser's
Mark Chernoby, Vice President of Advanced Vehicle Engineering,
AQMD Board Member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, and CalEPA Secretary
Terry Tamminen 'Hydrogen Up'. The Diamond Bar station is
Southern California's first official link the Hydrogen Highway.
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Besides California, there are a handful of other hydrogen fueling
stations around the country as well, such as one in Chicago, three
in Michigan, two in Arizona, one in Washington D. C. and several
being built in both Florida and New York, starting in 2006.
For those who wish to bring their hydrogen fueling stations home
with them, Honda has come up with a novel idea with the Home Energy
Station III. The Honda Home Energy Station III is capable of converting
natural gas to hydrogen so that H2 cars may be refueled at night
in their garages. This isn't the solution for cross-country drivers,
but it will take the burden off of those driving locally especially
when the infrastructure is first being built. The Home Energy
Station III is based on fuel cell technology and also capable
of supplying electricity to a medium-sized home, reducing energy
costs by as much as 50-percent.
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Honda Home Energy Station III & Honda
FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle |
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With innovation such as this, the generation, storage and transportation
of hydrogen will not be as big of an obstacle as some had previously
thought. Similar stations could be put up at gasoline stations
and natural gas suppliers for hydrogen-on-demand refueling. In
addition, large corporate offices, parking structures and shopping
outlets could offer similar services to employees and customers,
similar to the electric car outlets that are currently in place
in many of these same locations.
Thinking outside the box (and outside the typical gasoline station
scenario) will go a long way in ensuring the viability of the
hydrogen highway in relation to fueling options. It will be most
interesting to see how the new network of hydrogen fueling stations
develop and if today's gasoline stations will be tomorrow's major
suppliers of hydrogen or not. Only time will tell.
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