Hawaii to Provide Hydrogen for New Cars
As more and more auto makers begin to look for alternative means of powering their cars, some are shifting from the hybrid or electric methods and checking out what hydro power has to offer. Those going this route need a steady supply of the element in order to manufacture useful vehicles for the consumer level and these companies have been seeking solid sources. Since the United States island of Oahu, part of the state of Hawaii, has abundant supplies of hydrogen, makers looking to ramp up their fuel cell car production are turning to the island for solutions. General Motors is working with The Gas Company, Hawaii’s top gas energy provider, to provide the needed resources. TGC has announced plans to use its own separation process on its 1,000 mile utility system of pipe lines through strategically placed separators that will parse the hydrogen from synthetic natural gas and allow it to be harvested for use by local gas stations at the consumer level for refuelling their hydrogen cell vehicles.
According to GM’s executive director Charles Freese, of their Global Fuel Cell Activities program, the Hawaiian utility company is taking a crucial step that is needed to make fuel cell cars become a feasible reality. By leveraging the TGC infrastructure, GM cars will be able to have a constant supply of fuel needed to support tens of thousands of fuel cell vehicles according to Freese. Since Hawaii depends on imported petroleum for 90 per cent of its energy needs, the island state is more motivated than other US states to reduce its petro appetite and opt for more economically viable alternatives to oil.