Honda is Developing Stationary Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stations

How Does Honda’s Zero Emission Stationary Fuel Cell Work?

It is probably known by most people that Honda doesn’t just make cars. Honda makes a number of different products, including generators, lawn care equipment, marine engines and more. What may be less obvious, however, is how advancements in all these areas can help push forward the future of Honda’s automobiles.

Indeed, Honda is always finding ways to innovate, pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology. Recently, Honda showed off a new addition to its California headquarters campus in the form of a stationary fuel cell.

If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry. We’ll explain it. To be more precise, this machine is a stationary fuel cell power station that has zero emissions and is a precursor to similar commercial power stations in the future.

[Read more: The Latest Info on Honda’s Upcoming Electric SUV]

What Does Honda’s Stationary Fuel Cell Do?

Right now, the fuel cell is merely a demo for Honda headquarters, but it is meant to demonstrate capabilities that could be put into practice for more widespread use in the future. The fuel cell power station provides clean and quiet power, specifically meant for backup or emergency situations. You can think of it as a large generator, in some respects.

Some key differences between your typical generator and this power station, however, are that generators are loud while the stationary fuel cell is quiet. Not only that, but a generator requires gasoline to operate and emits waste gas. The fuel cell, on the other hand, has no emissions at all.

But the power station is even more eco-friendly than that. Instead of being made from brand new parts, it is made through recycled fuel cell systems from previously leased Honda Clarity Fuel Cell models. With this power source, the station can achieve a capacity of roughly 500kW.

This development is part of Honda’s goal to be carbon neutral with all of its products by 2050. Moreover, it seems we can expect to see power stations just like this one available in the near future, as Honda has plans to use these at its factories and data centers. Once commercialized, these stationary fuel cells will be used to provide power to a new fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles from Honda as well, the first of which is a new Honda CR-V FCEV.

[Read more: Honda is Betting Big on Fuel Cell Vehicles]

The future is upon us and the future looks bright thanks to Honda. Be sure to keep in touch with us at Honda of Marysville once these vehicles become available for a test drive.