DIY hydrogen for your car
A DIY hydrogen generator, no bigger than a fridge and due to go on sale within 2 years, will allow householders to produce their own power for household appliances or an electric car.
Hydrogen can be used as a fuel for electric cars thereby doing away with the need for a battery – these so-called fuel cell vehicles can travel longer distances than electric vehicles that need to be re-charged directly from a mains supply. For example, Nissan’s FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) can drive up to 500km without refilling.
The generator is likely to cost £2,000 and will use water and off-peak electricity to produce hydrogen that can be stored and later used as fuel for a car or a generator to power household appliances.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association said: “This generator depends on an electricity supply, so for it to be truly green people will need to buy from a supplier that uses a sustainable source of power, but the use of home generators such as these will undoubtedly boost the fuel cell market.”
The market for DIY car fuel appears to be growing. A device called the ‘FuelPod 2’ turns used cooking oil into bio-fuel that can be used in any diesel-engined vehicle.
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The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.
