Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

GM partners with Hawaii on hydrogen fuel cell pilot

US carmaker General Motors (GM) is partnering with Hawaii’s gas provider to pilot hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles.

The Gas Company (TGC) produces a high proportion of hydrogen (around 5%) along with synthetic natural gas on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, which GM plans to tap into.

At key locations along TGC’s gas pipeline system, the partners will use a proprietary separation process to tap into that hydrogen and redirect it to local fuelling stations.

“This is the type of enabler that a hydrogen transportation infrastructure needs because it addresses both the source of the hydrogen and a feasible way to deliver it for fuel cell vehicle use,” says Charles Freese, executive director of GM’s fuel cell activities.

Hawaii is uniquely motivated to move towards hydrogen-powered fuel cell transport, believes GM, because it relies on imports for 90% of its petroleum. The state has committed to reducing its usage by 70% through a combination of conservation, efficiency and renewable energy sources.

“We have been delivering as much as 12% hydrogen made from renewable sources to our gas customers over the last two to three years and expect we can deliver even greater quantities of hydrogen as demand increases,” says Jeffrey Kissel, president and CEO of TGC.

Hydrogen could even be priced at the same level or less than gasoline, says GM, which means that Hawaii could ultimately support tens of thousands of fuel cell vehicles.

GM has invested over $1.5 billion in fuel cell transport over the last 15 years and hopes to launch a commercial fuel cell system in 2015. Its current Chevrolet Fuel Cell model is being tested as part of the Project Driveway demonstration.

For further information:
www.gm.com
www.hawaiigas.com

01 June 2010

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