. Home Hydrogen Refueling Technology Advances with
the Introduction of Honda's Experimental Home Energy Station III
Further advancing its vision
of a gasoline- and emissions-free transportation future, Honda R&D
Americas, Inc., in conjunction with technology partner Plug Power Inc.,
today introduced the Home Energy Station III, which provides heat and
electricity for the home as well as fuel for a hydrogen-powered fuel cell
vehicle. This third generation unit, located at the company's North
American headquarters in Torrance, California, is more compact and
efficient than previous Home Energy Station models.
Following Honda's strategy to
develop intermediate as well as longer-term alternatives to traditional
energy sources like gasoline, the Home Energy Station III uses natural gas
as its base energy source. In keeping with the path established by early
generation systems, Home Energy Station I and Home Energy Station II, the
Home Energy Station III is designed to work in a home-based refueling
environment and is able to supply a sufficient amount of hydrogen to power
a fuel cell vehicle, such as the Honda 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.
Home Energy Station III is
roughly 30 percent smaller than its predecessor (Home Energy Station II)
with an approximate 25-percent 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 percent with
the use of a new, high-performance, natural gas reformer. The Home Energy
Station III 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 5 kilowatts of electrical
power to the home in normal and emergency conditions.
"The third generation of
Honda's Home Energy Station continues to push the limits with its
innovative technology," said Ben Knight, vice president of Honda R&D
Americas. "The combination of home energy generation and home refueling
offers an attractive alternative to gasoline and takes us one step closer
to a truly viable hydrogen-based transportation system."
The Home Energy Station III
will be tested in conjunction with the Honda FCX, the world's most
advanced fuel cell vehicle, at Honda R&D Americas Torrance, California,
headquarters.
