Technical Issues on Fuel Choice for Fuel Cell Vehicles and Hydrogen Refueling Stations

Abstract

Direct hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and methanol fuel cell vehicles are being developed as a potential alternative to the internal combustion engine vehicles. Fuel choice for fuel cell vehicles is a matter of primary concern now in automobile industries. There are many technical and cost issues for the development of commercial vehicles. Fuel choice will affect a strategy for market introduction of hydrogen refueling stations. A local natural gas reforming station and a local PEM electrolyzer station have a high potential of market introduction in Japan. These two refueling stations will be developed and demonstrated in the WE-NET program by the year 2002.