ITM Power bi-fuel (hydrogen/petrol) Ford Focus

ITM modified the factory standard 2.0L Ford Focus in order to show that hydrogen as a fuel, is compatible with today’s engines and infrastructure; society doesn’t have to wait for the availability of fuel cell cars to enjoy driving with zero carbon emissions using hydrogen.

ITM ran the car on hydrogen for the complete distance from Brighton to London to show the “clean, green motoring spirit” that the public could one day enjoy, if car manufacturers undertook the simple modifications to their production lines”.

I think it’s a magnificent car. I like it because it’s so simple. I couldn’t tell the difference, driving with gas or hydrogen, it’s the same vehicle, same motion, very easy, very uncomplicated. I like the fact that it’s a fairly straightforward retrofit so we’re not talking hundreds of thousands extra, given that this is a one-off prototype, not conveyor belt made, so if it became mainstream, you’re talking something quite affordable … I fail to see the real obstacles, I don’t think they exist, except in politicians’ minds, and I’d like to see a bit of clarity and maybe a bit of courage” (from them).

Importantly the bi-fuel Ford Focus is refuelled using hydrogen generated using ITM’s patented electrolyser technology that is being developed to make hydrogen affordable. Using only water and renewable energy, electolysers can generate “green hydrogen”, providing refuelling infrastructure for vehicles, at the point of use.

Charles Purkess adds, “We need an alternative clean fuel; we need a fuel to replace a fossil fuel; a fuel is a store of energy. Existing sources of renewable energy are intermittent and variable; when the wind blows at 3am we waste the electricity generated because it isn’t used or stored. If however, electrolysers were deployed we could store the energy as a clean fuel for whenever we need it”.

“We need pragmatic thinking to allow our car industry to evolve, to achieve long term zero carbon goals; we have to consider where our power is coming from, make better use of renewable energy, and reduce our dependency on oil. These are some of the reasons ITM Power are developing electrolysers”.

www.itm-power.com