Honda Tinkers With New Solar Hydrogen Station Prototype

TORRANCE, California — Honda continues to experiment with solar hydrogen stations for home use in refilling fuel-cell electric vehicles like the Honda FCX Clarity. On Wednesday, it said a next-generation prototype of such a station now is in operation at its Los Angeles research facility.

"Designed as a single, integrated unit to fit in the user's garage, Honda's next-generation solar hydrogen station reduces the size of the system, while producing enough hydrogen via an eight-hour overnight fill for daily commuting for a fuel-cell electric vehicle," the Japanese automaker said in a statement.

Honda said its engineers have eliminated the bulky and expensive compressor used in its first station. It describes the new prototype as "a world's first for a home use system."

The new station is described as "intuitive" and easy to use. Honda said it is determined to create a refueling infrastructure "that can advance the wider use of fuel-cell electric vehicles by consumers."

Inside Line says: Honda takes another step toward making fuel-cell electric vehicles easy to use at home. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent