HSU's Hydrogen Fueling Station with the Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle and Hydrogen Powered Toyota Prius.
Engineers from SERC installed a hydrogen energy station on the Humboldt State University campus. The station includes an electrolyzer, compressor, storage tanks, and a dispenser, and currently fuels a hydrogen powered Toyota Prius and a Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicle. Through this program SERC will help demonstrate the potential benefits associated with hydrogen fueled vehicles and will provide a testing ground for learning about the attributes and challenges of this new technology. SERC and HSU will operate, refuel, and perform routine maintenance on the vehicles, and will conduct education and outreach activities associated with hydrogen-powered transportation.
SERC Director Peter Lehman makes the final cut at the opening ceremony as Congr. Mike Thompson (left), HSU President Rollin Richmond (back), and Project Manager Greg Chapman (right) look on. Photo courtesy of Daniel Solomon, Eureka Reporter.
The station currently serves two vehicles, a Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV-adv) and a Toyota Prius. Built on Toyota's Highlander mid-sized sport utility vehicle platform, the FCHV-adv is a zero-emission vehicle equipped with a 100 kilowatt PEM fuel cell, four high-pressure hydrogen fuel tanks, and electric motor that directly drives the front wheels, a nickel-metal hydride battery, and a power control unit. The sophisticated power control unit determines the division of energy between the fuel cell stack and the battery to power the vehicle and is similar to the mechanism that manages the enigne and battery in the Toyota Prius. The FCHV-adv has a driving range of 400 miles on a full tank. We are currently upgrading the fueling station to 700 bar capability, which will allow us to fully fuel the Highlander and increase our commuting distance.
The hydrogen powered Prius is a standard Toyota Prius hybrid internal combustion engine vehicle, modified to run on hydrogen by Quantum Technologies of Irvine, CA. Quantum removes the gasoline tank and fuel lines and replaces them with high-pressure hydrogen gas cylinders (5000 psig) and stainless steel plumbing lines. Quantum also modifies the fuel injection system and engine operation parameters to run efficiently and safely on gaseous hydrogen fuel. Due to fuel storage constraints, the vehicle has a limited range of about 80 to 100 miles on one tank of fuel.
SERC celebrated the grand opening of the fueling station on September 4, 2008. Speakers included Congressman Mike Thompson, HSU President Rollin Richmond, Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder, and SERC Director Peter Lehman. For more information about the grand opening ceremony go to our public relations web page.
HSU's Hydrogen-Powered Toyota Prius. Photo by Kellie Brown, HSU Marketing & Communications.
HSU's Hydrogen Fueling Station is the northernmost fueling station on California's Hydrogen Highway. Visit the California Fuel Cell Partnership's Hydrogen Fueling Station map for more information.
How does HSU's Hydrogen Fueling Station work? » (brochure in PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions about the HSU Hydrogen Fueling Station » (brochure in PDF)
