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A production hybrid-electric vehicle with gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) has been modified to operate on hydrogen fuel and to demonstrate an advanced metal hydride fuel storage system. Fuel economy, range, performance, and emissions of the modified vehicle are similar to levels achieved with current fuel cell vehicles. This project was conceived and executed by Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. All vehicle modifications, engine and chassis dynamometer tests, and road tests were performed by Quantum Technologies, Inc. at their Lake Forest, CA facility. Project activities and test results are chronicled in this paper.

Among the various alternative fuels, hydrogen is the only fuel, which is clean and sustainable. More importantly, if hydrogen is produced from renewable resources, virtually no CO2 emissions are produced. Texaco Ovonic Hydrogen Systems (TOHS) has converted a gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) hybrid vehicle to a hydrogen vehicle using its advanced metal hydride storage. Compared to its gasoline counterpart, the converted vehicle demonstrated a reduction in CO2 tailpipe emission of 220 grams per mile. Ovonic metal hydride hydrogen storage systems consist of three critical elements: (1) an advanced metal hydride alloy, (2) an efficient heat exchanger and (3) a lightweight fiber wrapped pressure container. A 50 liter Ovonic metal hydride storage vessel installed in the vehicle provides a storage capacity of 3 kg hydrogen and a driving range of 130-150 miles.