Honda tests hydrogen fuel pump in Torrance, CA

Honda Motor Co., the first company approved to sell hydrogen cars to American drivers, began testing a solar-powered hydrogen-fueling device for home use to address a lack of public hydrogen-fuel stations in the United States.

The solar-powered pump, which began operating today at Honda's U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif., makes half a kilogram of hydrogen gas per day, enough for an average daily commute, the company said in an e-mailed statement. The zero-emission fuel is created from water and electricity produced by 6 kilowatts of rooftop solar panels made by Honda.

Plans by Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler AG, and General Motors Co. to sell hydrogen autos have stalled in the United States on a lack of fuel stations, high costs and competition for federal funds from battery-powered cars.

Honda, which views hydrogen as a potential replacement for gasoline, leases FCX Clarity fuel cell sedans only to drivers in the Los Angeles area because of the city's hydrogen stations.

Tokyo-based Honda didn't say when sales of the Solar Hydrogen Station may begin or how much it will cost. The device is cheaper and smaller than a previous solar-powered fuel pump also tested in California, and is designed for a slow, overnight refill to hold down costs and complexity, the company said.

In 2002, Honda got the first certification from the Environmental Protection Agency and other regulators to sell hydrogen cars to U.S. consumers, after passing safety tests.

The company leases the vehicles to drivers in California, who pay $600 a month and provide feedback to the company about the vehicles.

Other automakers also have hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on the roads and in government fleets.

Toyota said earlier this month it was going to put more than 100 fuel cell vehicles in a demonstration test fleet with universities, governments and private companies; and GM has more than 100 Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicles in its "Project Driveway" test program. Consumers, celebrities and corporations have logged more than 1 million miles in the vehicles for GM's program over the past two years.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100128/AUTO01/1280361/1148/auto01/Honda-tests-hydrogen-fuel-pump

Source: The Detroit News