About the Fueling Station

The HyRide project has brought along with it Connecticut’s first hydrogen fueling station, located in Hamden, CT (as of Fall 2010.) The station will exploit electrolysis technology; this process simply uses electricity to split water’s bonds into hydrogen and oxygen. The sustainable and clean hydrogen can be used as fuel kept onboard the bus at ultra high-pressure.

GNHTD has teamed up with Connecticut’s experienced company with special services in hydrogen energy, Avālence to create a secure and effective fueling station. The electrolysis method to be taken produces high-pressure hydrogen gas without a compressor. The notion of this method is that it increases energy efficiency, creates an affordable price, and ensures safety. An unusual and fascinating aspect of the electrolysis design is that it is easy and low cost to integrate renewable energy (such as solar, wind, etc.) into producing the electricity to split waters molecules. Also, the costs reduce drastically with this design of no compressor, resulting in less maintenance, inexpensive materials, and up to 50% less costs of hydrogen production use. Another feature that the design holds is the safety requirements. Once the water molecules have been split into oxygen and hydrogen, the oxygen is tested for any traces of hydrogen before released back into the atmosphere, and the hydrogen is kept contained in high-pressure. The main computer on-sight of the station that controls the electrolysis process is located in an air sealed compartment. If hydrogen were to leak into the air, then this would automatically trigger the system to completely shut off. Efficiency, price, and protection were all topics kept in mind when building the fueling station.

The station is designed to generate10 kilograms of hydrogen per day and to dispense the fuel very quickly. The maximum storage capacity of the station is 48 kilograms of hydrogen. Keep in mind that, hydrogen fuel can last weeks depending the number of miles driven. In consequence, the amount of visits to the fueling station will reduce.

State funds first hydrogen fueling station in Hamden

By Ann DeMatteo, Assistant Metro Editor

08/13/2008

HAMDEN — The state's first hydrogen fueling station will be parked at the public works garage on Shepard Avenue .

At some point in the future, it is expected that hydrogen-powered vehicles owned by the town, and by the Greater New Haven Transit District, located on nearby Sherman Avenue , would gas up there.

The state Bond Commission has given $250,000 to fund the fueling station, which is expected to be installed at public works by spring, said state Rep. J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, who helped secure the funding.

The project is a collaborative effort among the transit district, the town, the state and the office of U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3.

“We're happy that Hamden is the first site in the state,” Mayor Craig B. Henrici said Tuesday, acknowledging the work by Sharkey, state Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, and DeLauro.

The transit district has received a $1.5 million research and development grant to develop a small alternative fuel transit vehicle, according to Executive Director Donna Carter.

The transit district is working with several different vendors for parts and pieces, and it is hoped that the vehicle will be assembled in Connecticut , creating jobs, Carter said. The test vehicle isn't expected on the road until 2010.

The transit district uses small buses to provide rides to 4,000 elderly and disabled residents in the region.

“The reason why we're really excited about this is this vehicle would be a low-floor vehicle with a ramp. That's a big plus,” Carter said.

According to Sharkey, $750,000 has been granted for the equipment for the hydrogen fueling station. The $250,000 from the Bond Commission will go toward site improvements. Avalence LLC, a Milford high-tech manufacturer, will install its prototype in Hamden .

“Their technology allows them to use solar and wind power to create electricity. There will be solar panels that will create electricity to run the fueling station. It's completely green,” Sharkey said.

Sharkey said that Hamden could approach major car manufacturers about replacing gas-powered vehicles with hydrogen-powered ones.

“Naturally, we don't expect our whole fleet to be replaced in a year or two but this is the technology of the future,” Henrici said.

“It is truly exciting to be involved in promoting a new technology that not only helps the environment and reduces our reliance on foreign oil, but also saves taxpayers money while promoting Connecticut 's emerging high-tech business community,” Sharkey said.