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The future
of transportation will be fueled by hydrogen. To make this vision real,
every aspect of how people use fuel must be addressed—the challenge
is to make storing, shipping and using hydrogen practical, easy, safe
and affordable.
Solid State Hydrogen
ECD Ovonics, through a joint venture with ChevronTexaco called Texaco
Ovonic Hydrogen Systems (TOHS), has developed an innovative solution for
storing hydrogen in a solid state. This technology holds great promise
for enabling a hydrogen future that delivers cars to consumers with similar
range, performance and refueling experience as vehicles today.
Solid state hydrogen can be stored at much lower pressure (both in refueling
stations and in the car’s fuel tank) than either gaseous or liquid
hydrogen. Lower pressure makes solid state hydrogen far safer and more
practical to transport and use. In fact, ECD Ovonics has modified a 2002
model Toyota Prius to run on its system. It currently has a range of about
150 miles per refueling and was recently demonstrated (to rave reviews)
at the prestigious Challenge Bibendum. ECD Ovonics is working now on improvements
that could increase the range to 300 miles per refueling. The company
chose the well-known Prius because its nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries
and all-electric operation mode at idle and start-up make it an excellent
mate for hydrogen fuel. (NiMH batteries are an innovation that is a direct
result of research done by, and patents held by, ECD Ovonics.)
How’s performance? In dynamometer tests, the stock Prius using gasoline
generates peak engine power of 66 BHP at 4,000 rpm. ECD Ovonics was able
to closely match the horsepower using hydrogen, obtaining 70 BHP at 4,000
rpm after making some modifications to the stock vehicle. Zero to 40 mph
acceleration times were 6.9 seconds for the stock Prius and 7.8 seconds
for the ECD Ovonics vehicle—a compromise that most drivers do not
notice.
The advantages of ECD Ovonics’ solid state storage technology do
not stop with hybrid vehicles. Solid state hydrogen can also be applied
to other internal combustion engine vehicles, as BMW has recently shown.
Solving Tomorrow’s Problems Today
Low-pressure solid state storage can provide immediate access to the road
leading to a hydrogen economy. And ECD Ovonics technology can work with
today’s internal combustion engines every bit as well as tomorrow’s
fuel cells.
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