A high differential pressure water electrolysis-type solar hydrogen station was installed on the grounds of the Saitama Prefectural Offices and a two-year verification test was carried out. This was the first time for Honda to hand over a high differential pressure water electrolysis-type solar hydrogen station to a public institution such as the Saitama Prefectural Offices for verification testing in this way. The verification test involved using hydrogen produced by a high-pressure water electrolysis system to supply as fuel for an FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle used as an official vehicle by Saitama Prefecture, collecting data, and conducting analysis. During the two years of the verification test, the outdoor environmental suitability of the system and the changes in performance of the high differential pressure water electrolysis stack were confirmed. This also demonstrated the ability to maintain hydrogen quality and provide a constantly stable supply of hydrogen. All of the hydrogen supplied to the FCX Clarity automobile was provided entirely with the electric power from photovoltaic cells. Since the Saitama Prefectural Offices operated one FCX Clarity automobile, this had the reduction effect of approximately 16% on the CO2 emitted by all the official Saitama Prefectural vehicles operated by the particular office that operated the FCX Clarity. There is a likelihood that a CO2 reduction of approximately 41% can be further achieved by maximizing the use of electric power from photovoltaic cells.
Article of Honda R&D Technical Review Vol.26 No.2 (200 - 206)