[ column ] for commercial and emergency back-up power applications . They found unexpected demand for EV charging where utility power is unavailable . The GM Hydrotec Powercube can charge at 100 kW of peak power and 77 kW at steady state . The hydrogen is supplied in a tubetrailer at 7,000 psi with enough hydrogen to supply 3,500 kWH of energy .
MotorTrend was so taken by the technology that they used the GM Hydrotec Powercube to charge electric and plug-in hybrid SUVs during evaluations at the 2023 SUV of the Year Competition in the remote California desert , where no commercial power is available .
GeoPura in the United Kingdom , known for hydrogen fuel cell generators initially developed for the film industry , also pivoted towards EV charging solutions . GeoPura installed hydrogenpowered EV chargers at a Cairn Lodge Services in
Lanark . The site will run six hydrogen EV chargers for retail use until a suitable electrical grid connection is established .
The British military is also interested in GeoPura ’ s solution to provide redundancy and robustness to their energy infrastructure . They installed an EV charging system last December at the Davenport Naval Base , which will act as a proof of concept for off-grid charging . The hope is that it can grow to include power generation and marine vessel support .
Using stationary fuel cells to charge EVs is not a long-term solution . It only provides an option for temporary or emergency power needs . A justification also can be made if the project must move forward and the timeline for utility power installation is unacceptable . For these locations , hydrogen can act as a bridge to power a fleet until the utility provides a permanent connection . GeoPura™ Hydrogen Power Unit ( HPU ), manufactured in Newcastle , UK , uses fuel cell technology to supply large-scale power when and where the grid cannot . The HPU can be equipped with EV charging posts to create an off-grid charging facility .
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 17 | August 2024 33