Like to Test Drive a Turbine or Hydrogen Car? How Some Ordinary Folks Got Lucky
History, as they say, repeats itself. Back in 1963 Chrysler was enthusiastic about the possibilities of adapting the gas turbine engine to automobile usage and in order to prove the concept it built 50 Ghia-bodied examples. In an industry first, Chrysler let the great American public do the test driving. 203 lucky motorists, including 20 women, were given the keys for a lengthy period, during which they related their experiences to the company's engineers. Unfortunately the turbine, though reliable, had too many flaws to make it practical.
Now, almost five decades later, Honda has a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell cars being driven by 20 Californians who've leased an FCX Clarity for 18 months in a similar test program. So far, those temporary owners are delighted with the results. The cars run flawlessly, range is equal to internal combustion engines. Yet that, in itself, is not news. What's really interesting is that Honda is also developing some unique refueling stations.
"Where to get the hydrogen?" is, of course, the big question mark in the quest to make it the fuel source for future electric cars. So get this, folks: you may eventually be able to top up the tank at home! Honda has unveiled its newest prototype home hydrogen station for fuel cell vehicles, using solar power.
The home refueling system consists of three components: a vehicle filling unit, an electrolyzer to split tap water into hydrogen and oxygen, and a six-kilowatt solar array to provide the power. It can generate enough hydrogen from sunshine to provide 30-35 miles of driving, which should meet most daily commuting needs. If drivers need to use the full 270 mile range of the FCX Clarity they'll have to stop by one of the hydrogen stations in the Los Angeles area. Free fuel? Yes, if you give over your home's entire roof to solar panels (a good idea, actually).
Don't call your local Honda dealer yet, though. The system is still being developed at Honda's Torrance, California research center along with other experimental hydrogen test stations.
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