Mobile hydrogen for fuel cell black cabs

The 200 fuel cell black cabs due on London’s streets in time for the Olympics will have additional locations from which to refuel following the news that the city will have ‘mobile’ hydrogen filling stations in 2012. There is currently only one hydrogen refuelling station in Britain.

The hydrogen will be dispensed from mobile trailer-mounted refuelling units parked on filling station forecourts. Drivers will use them as they would a standard pump. Each trailer carries enough hydrogen to refuel 30 fuel call cars before it needs to be replaced.

The Air Products trailers offer a quick and relatively cheap way of providing infrastructure for hydrogen use.

Fuel cell London cabs

Intelligent Energy, Lotus, LTI (London Taxis International) and TRW Conekt are jointly developing the hydrogen fuel cell London cabs in time for the Olympics in 2012.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “A London TX4 taxi emits 226g CO2 per km, but the problem with diesel-engined vans, buses and cabs in urban areas is more about the particulates released in their exhaust. The detrimental effect this has on health makes a strong case for switching to fuel cell technology.”

The cabs will produce no emissions at point of use.

How will the fuel cell cab work?

The fuel cell black cabs will use hydrogen rather than batteries to power an electric motor – not having to rely on batteries results in a lower weight, longer range and a quicker refuelling time.

This type of vehicle is clean at point of use, but hydrogen is only as clean as the energy sources used to produce it.