March 26, 2007 5:17 PM PDT
The Hydratus, an apparatus that produces hydrogen fuel from a reaction between magnesium and water, will soon be implemented by start-up Ecotality in a system designed for use in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Ecotality says the the Hydratus is ideal for such vehicles because it produces hydrogen on demand, eliminating the need for costly (and not entirely eco-friendly) compressed-hydrogen production and storage systems. The technology was developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Ecotality plans to implement the Hydratus on hydrogen fuel cell buses like the one shown here. Fuel cell buses outfitted with the gear will cost about $500,000 each; buses equipped with conventional engines cost about $300,000. The buses will be able to travel about 155 miles (250 kilometers), or 15 hours, between refuelings, according to Ecotality.
Photo by Ecotality
