Testing hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles

摘要

Spearheading the move to carbon-free transportation. Tiger Optics LLC, a leader in laser-based detection of trace contaminants, is supplying its analysers to the State of California to qualify the hydrogen (H2) required to operate fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). Tiger's analysers provide the sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy needed to measure certain contaminants that can damage or destroy a vehicle's fuel cell. Because such quality control is crucial for FCEVs to achieve mass-market success, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International has set stringent standards for hydrogen fuel purity. The issue is timely, as Toyota began delivering its Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle to eight California dealerships in October last year. To build consumer confidence, the vehicle manufacturer is offering an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the Mirai FCEV, as well as free fuel for three years. At recent count, only nine hydrogen fuel stations in California were open to the public, but more are in the works. The California Fuel Cell Partnership-a consortium of private and public entities-expects more than 50 stations to be operational in the state by the end of 2016. Indeed, California adopted legislation in 2013 to allocate $20m annually to build at least 100 hydrogen fuelling stations.