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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.

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries employing hydride materials based upon the principles of disorder by the control of short and intermediate range order such as V-Ti-Zr-Ni based alloys have been extensively developed by Ovonic Battery Company (OBC) for both portable electronic and electric vehicle applications. Metal hydride alloys of this family can be engineered to provide the proper hydrogen storage properties together with the desired electrochemical properties required for battery applications. Application of Ovonic technology for EV applications has been demonstrated by successful scale-up from wound cell designs to prismatic designs. Recent test results are presented which show the excellent performance characteristics of the Ovonic NiMH battery for EV applications. High gravimetric and volumetric energy densities, high peak powers, and excellent cycle life have been demonstrated for this battery by OBC and verified by independent testing laboratories.