Viable storage of hydrogen in materials with off-board recharging using high-temperature electrolysis

Hydrogen storage in materials (hydrides) is challenging for vehicular applications, due to the large amounts of heat that must be removed in a short period of time during the filling process. It is proposed that rehydrogenation of the hydride instead is performed outside the vehicle, and linked to hydrogen production by water electrolysis at the filling station. The waste heat removed from the hydride during filling can be used to heat the electrolysis cell, increasing its efficiency. This solution can speedup the filling process, increase the efficiency of the hydrogen production, increase safety during filling, eliminate the need for massive transportation of hydrogen, and open the arena for many new hydrogen storage materials. (C) 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.