Research & Development
Plug Power Research and Development Partners
Honda
The Home Energy Station (HES IV) is a continuation of ongoing joint activity between Plug Power and Honda R&D Co., Ltd of Japan to develop infrastructure to support gasoline- and emission-free transportation. A fuel cell system that converts natural gas into hydrogen, the fourth-generation Home Energy Station can be used to fuel a hydrogen-powered car, while providing heat and electricity for residential use.
The HES IV utilizes Plug Power’s innovative dual mode fuel cell stack technology, which generates electricity in one mode of operation and acts as a hydrogen purifier in the other. Dual mode stack technology simplifies system architecture and is expected to result in both cost reductions and manufacturing efficiencies.
Plug Power has been working with Honda on the Home Energy Station since 2003. HES IV represents the latest evolution of the technology. It has achieved a 70 percent reduction in size, as well as a significant increase in efficiency, compared with the first unit, making it even more suitable for household installation.
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation is partnering with QuestAir Technologies, Plug Power Inc. and Ben Gurion University on plans to commercialize an on-vehicle hydrogen production system for use in a fuel cell-powered lift truck application.
The unique technologies under development by ExxonMobil, QuestAir Technologies and Ben Gurion University will convert liquid fuels -- gasoline, diesel, ethanol or biodiesel -- into hydrogen onboard the vehicle where it will be used in a fuel cell power train. Plug Power will integrate the new technologies into its GenDrive fuel cell power systems for lift trucks to drive future commercialization efforts.
The new system will convert liquid hydrocarbons into hydrogen directly on a vehicle without the need for storage, leveraging significant infrastructure, logistics and cost advantages compared to other hydrogen vehicle systems, all while reducing the impact on the environment. The system does not require changes to fuel delivery infrastructure.