Isolated and Mobile Charging Stations Powered by Hydrogen
This page is translated from the original post "Des bornes de recharge isolées et mobiles grâce à l’hydrogène" in French.
- 21/01/2022 12:30
To accelerate the development of the electric vehicle charging network, General Motors unveils its hydrogen solution Hydrotec.
In Europe, the electrical infrastructure is dense enough to weave a mesh of rapid charging stations or swap battery stations. However, some countries like the United States cannot do the same, with sparsely populated or even desert regions.
Hydrogen to aid in charging
General Motors has thus designed a complementary solution, originally intended for trucks or trains. Its Hydrotec units are generators that produce hydrogen from water via electrolysis, then electricity through a fuel cell.
They will support electricity needs where it is unavailable or replace current diesel or gas generators. In this latter case, the American group emphasizes two main advantages. Hydrotec units produce no polluting emissions and reduce noise levels.
These power generators come in two configurations: a “Mobile Power Generator” (MPG) unit for emergency use and a more permanent solution called Empower. GM is not alone in design, as its electrolyzer is converted into a charger by the company Renewable Innovations.
Solutions for service stations or mobile units
The GM Hydrotec Empower units are true small fast charging stations. They have powers ranging from 60 to 600 kW depending on the size. One unit can deliver up to 150 kW on each of the four outlets and could fuel around a hundred vehicles per hydrogen fill-up.
The MPG units are mobile solutions based on Hydrotec cubes mounted on trailers. These are intended for locations temporarily disconnected from the grid or for brief events such as festivals.
GM explains that these units would also be ideal for the military, through its subsidiary GM Defense. Installed on pallets, these units would produce electricity for camps and military installations, as well as vehicles. The water generated by the fuel cell can also be reused for camp needs.
GM prototypes starting in 2022
The Hydrotec generators will be built at the Brownstown plant (Michigan) in the United States. Their conversion into charging stations will be handled by Renewable Innovations in Salt Lake City (Utah).
General Motors aims to deploy 500 Empower units overseas by 2025. The first MPG units will launch in civilian and military programs starting mid-2022, before scaling up production.
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