Hydrogen to be the demise of the Oil Conglomerates?

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hydrogen_refill-283px If the Oil conglomerates and Governments have their way, consumers will be filling up their Hydrogen Cars at the fuel bowsers, just like we do now.

However, the alternative green method is for a home Hydrogen manufacturing device that allows consumers to create inexpensive Hydrogen via electrolysis.

This concept is a step closer to reality after an EU announcement backing a Europe-wide network of hydrogen filling stations. This is great news as it will eventually wrest the world reliance on oil as it is not a finite resource.

ITM Power is a UK Hydrogen firm that has developed a home hydrogen refuelling station aptly named 'Green Box' (pictured).

The 'Green Box' is a refrigerator-sized station that uses mains water and electricity to produce hydrogen with electrolysis. ITM demonstrated in July how the Green Box was capable of powering a hydrogen-converted Ford Focus. Whilst the kilometres of the Ford Focus was limited in the demo model, this is a positive sign of things to come.

General Motors and others have unveiled working models of home Hydrogen systems in the US, but ITM says its breakthrough has been to radically cut the cost of the materials used to convert water into hydrogen. The membranes in the Green Box use a polymer that ITM claims costs a fifth of traditional ones.

At this stage, there is no confirmed date for its hydrogen fuelling station going on sale. However, production versions are currently being manufactured for trials.

With new Hydrogen cars from Japan and Hydrogen road tours becoming popular in the US, the news of EU making a announcement is positive news for the consumers, but not so for the Oil Conglomerates and their tax revenue collection bowsers.

Comments (3)

I agree with these green boxes becoming readily available, but I can see these being banned by Governments who, for so long, have had it so good with the oil companies collecting their excise for them. The part that has annoyed me is that as the fuel cost rise due to the global problems, the Government is reaping a huge windfall because their excise is a percentage of the fuel costs - the greater the fuel price, the greater the tax.

Why isn't the media all over this?

Fabulous. Anything that sticks it into the greedy oil multi-nationals and helps the environment at the same time.

Wow, this is great news, but the Governments run on taxes collected from petrol sales. I wonder where they see this lost revenue being obtained from. Someone has to pay and I am sure the Government will find a way to hit the motorist.