Hydrogen bi-fuel breakthrough

A British company has a made a breakthrough in converting a conventional petrol car to run on pure hydrogen. The bi-fuel Ford Focus, with minimal modifications, has successfully completed initial trials in a programme conducted on behalf of ITM Power by the University of Hertfordshire.

During the testing programme the vehicle was able to travel over 25 miles on a single tank of hydrogen – more than the average commuting journey – before being switched back to run on petrol. During the hydrogen-powered journey the car generated no CO2 emissions.

ITM Power has developed a low-cost electrolyser which can convert renewable energy (wind, wave or solar power) or off-peak electricity into hydrogen. It uses its own prototype ‘home refuelling system’ to fuel the car. Both the refuelling system, which will be able to generate and store hydrogen at home or at work, and the bi-fuel car are to be publicly demonstrated later this year.

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