Illinois Gets its First Hydrogen Station
OK, we’ll admit we’re a bit biased. There are nearly 50 hydrogen refueling stations in the lower 48 states, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, so we don’t usually perk up when a new one arrives. But this particular establishment opened in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Ill., just 20 miles up the expressway from our office, right next to O’Hare airport. We’d have to trek four hours to eastern Michigan to find the next closest one.
Des Plaines-based Gas Technology Institute, a nonprofit firm for natural gas research and development, opened the hydrogen pump alongside two natural gas ones at its headquarters yesterday morning. GM christened the event by filling up a HydroGen3 — the one that looks like Europe’s Opel Zafira minivan.
The gaseous hydrogen runs for around $3.50 a kilogram, which would fuel the HydroGen3 for about 55 miles. As there are no widely-available hydrogen vehicles on the market, the pump will primarily be used by a handful of prototypes, including two hydrogen shuttle buses licensed to the city of Chicago. Should any Chicagoans get their hands on a hydrogen car, the station is fitted for consumer use with a credit card reader — though anyone who wants to use it should contact GTI to get trained on proper fill-‘er-up techniques, R&D manager Tony Lindsay said.
This summer, Texas will get its first hydrogen fueling station, along with a zero-emission hydrogen bus. Other hydrogen vehicles include the offbeat Honda FCX and a version of the Chevrolet Equinox, plus Ford’s plug-in hydrogen hybrid Edge prototype. The BMW 7 Series, which we reported on earlier, runs on liquid — not gaseous — hydrogen, which is available only in very select markets.
Hydrogen cars are still in the guinea-pig years, leased in small numbers to select fleets or individuals. The vast majority of stations are on the coasts, and even in their densest markets, there are at most a dozen or so per area. But each new station — and each new car that purports to use the fuel — is a good sign that hydrogen really is a viable alternative fuel.
Related:
Ford's Plug-in Electric Hydrogen Hybrid Edge
2006 L.A. Auto Show: Ford Explorer Fuel Cell
BMW Hydrogen 7 Ready for Daily Use
GM Launching Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Fleet
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What streets is the station located? Is it anything interesting/curious?
S. Mount Prospect Rd. between Oakton & Howard
55 miles for $3.50? That's not bad. With the cheapest gas in Chicago being around $2.80 (according to the intertubes), that translates to about the same cost as a 44mpg gasoline car, which is probably better than what a car that size would get. So hydrogen is no more expensive, really, than gasoline? That sounds like one problem down. (I know, the main problem is that you're not saving any CO2 emissions though, since the energy it took to secure the hydrogen caused more CO2 than the gasoline would have emitted)
What's the range on the car though? Is it reasonable?
Dan,
the other problem is these hydrogen prototypes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars right now. Tackle that, the pumps might follow.
Don't all prototypes cost hundreds of thousands though, not just hyrdogen fuel cell ones? Doesn't mass production and efficiencies of scale kind of solve that problem?
I know, the fuel cells are a highly manufacturing time intensive products, much more so than a conventional gasoline engine. But, if you produced a few million a year (some reasonable fraction of cars sold in the US each year), what would the price be?
But ofcourse, there are many other problems as well. Gas storage ofcourse; hence my interest in the vehicle's range. (Plus, it hits close to home, having done research in the field for a couple years)
Dear Sirs;
I have driven Chrysler minivans since my first 1984 Dodge caravan. With the exception of 2 passenger cars, every second year or so, we purchased a new Chrysler minivan. We purchased a 2007 Grand Caravan on Sept. 2oo6. On at least 6 different occasions, fortunately at low speed, my foot has slipped of the brake pedal causing me to go through a stop sign, one time backing out of a parking place it happened and I nearly backed into a car. I have never had such an experience as this with any of my vehicles.
I have not been able to find out from the dealer why this has happened. One person said that there was a change in the positioning of the brake and accelerstor pedals because accidents were caused by people applying the brakes and at the same time pressing the accelerator pedal because the brakes were worn.
I am about ready to give up on this car as I am very aware when I am driving that this can happen again and cause a serios accident.
Can you advise me? Herb
Hallo,
Could you please write me, where can I find refueling stations for natural gas (station localization or website). I wont buy a car with "gas natural", not LNG, but I'm afraid. Where can I refueling that car?
Thank You
Dagmara