ITM Power plc, a U.K. company, has introduced a hydrogen home refueling electrolyser that promises to produce enough hydrogen overnight to take a duel fuel Ford Focus 25 miles. Eight years in development, the electrolyser uses a polymer membrane (also known as PEM which stands for both Polymer Electrolyte Membrane or Photon Exchange Membrane) intsead the more expensive platinum-plated membrane. Electrolysers and fuel cells traditionaly employ a platinum-plated membranes which are considered a cost impediment to wide adoption of hydrogen powered vehicles.
Company CEO Jim Healthcote said that the system has moved out "research and feasibility" so the company can begin talking with manufacturers. The company is also using the hydrogen for heating, cooking and refrigeration at a "hydrogen apartment" in its Sheffield facility. As well, the hydrogen powers a generator to provide electricity.
For all hydrogen’s doubters who I hear from regularly, the momentum behind hydrogen is really hitting the gas (pun intended). I can imagine the doubters also believed in 1979 that there could never be a personal computer or in 1993, something like the Internet. What ITC appears to have done is create a technology that can be refined over time to produce more hydrogen over time at a lower cost. I have pinged them to get specific cost and production figures.
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