Honda starts building hydrogen cars

ITM are demoing their home refeuller next week! http://www.itm-power.com/news/62.pdf

Rich, dont know much about this stuff, this home refuelling unit, any idea how much it will cost to run? love the idea of not needing petrol, but how pricey is the alternative?

Found information on that company Richard mentioned above on their web site, looks interesting! Anyone know how soon this tech is going to be in the shops? Hydrogen holds key to greener Britain Production of a state-of-the-art device that can help provide clean fuel to power vehicles and provide energy for homes, ofices and factories is due to start in Britain next year. Work to open what could become one of the world’s largest production centres for high- tech electrolysers is well underway. ITM Power, Europe’s leading electrolyser and fuel cell development company, announced that its new Shefield facility, which will be the irst factory of its kind ever to be opened in the UK, is on target to commence production early in 2008. The manufacture of electrolysers – devices that produce hydrogen from electricity and water – will mark a milestone for the company on its way to helping develop a ‘hydrogen economy’. ITM Power believes that the opening will put Britain at the forefront of a revolution in the use of hydrogen as a new, clean energy source. Hydrogen can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels, offering the prospect of pollution-free motoring and zero-carbon housing. The Shefield facility is the result of 15 years of research, resulting in major breakthroughs in the design and development of materials used in the production of electrolysers. Phase one of the move from research to manufacture involves a £1-million transformation of the company’s new Shefield premises. Once open, the facility will produce electrolysers on a modular basis in 1kW, 10kW and 100kW outputs. The smaller units can be used in automotive applications while mid-range electrolysers have the capability to help provide fuel for heat and power in homes and businesses. The largest electrolysers can be used to provide ‘buffer’ storage for energy produced by wind, wave and solar power. Jim Heathcote, ITM Power’s Chief Executive Oficer said: “The opening of the factory takes us out of the research and development phase and into commercial production. This is a highly signiicant step, not just for us, but for the quest to find affordable, practical and clean alternatives to fossil fuels.” http://www.itm-power.com

My impression of ITM is that they are technically very clever and will spend the next 20 years improving their technology rather than look to commercialisation. Unless they can move forward commercially this will be another example of invented in the UK developed and sold by ANother.

Have heard of this British company ITM Power and have looked at their technology. They are very well advanced with excellent technology and will demonstrate a hydrogen bi-fuel Ford Focus and their HOME REFUELLING UNIT ( HRU ) very soon now. British technology leading the field, particularly with the HRU filling the infrastructure gap so well. It is the infrastructure that is so key to the hydrogen economy expanding. Great environmental benefits also.