Taxi Firm Tries Out Hydrogen System;
Elgin Company Tests Device In Bid To Cut Carbon Emissions
30th August 2008
A taxi company in Elgin has installed a hydrogen system in one of its cars in an attempt to cut carbon emissions.
West Road Taxis is testing out the device, called Hydrogen on Demand, which adds hydrogen to the car’s regular fuel intake and produces water as emissions.
Fitted by Rothes Auto Centre, the vehicle is one of the first in Scotland to use the system.
Mike Collie, who drives the modified taxi, said: “We are currently trying it for a month to see how it runs. At the moment I’m not sure if it has cut our carbon emissions but it has certainly been giving me more power and the vehicle is running more smoothly.
“So far this is the only taxi we have with the hydrogen system but if the trial is successful we will instal it in a few more cars.”
Hydrogen on Demand works by placing 950cc plastic tanks containing water and a catalyst into the car’s engine bay and passing an electric current through it, which then produces a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gas. This gas is then injected into the carburettor and mixes with the engine’s normal fuel intake.
Rothes Auto Centre owner Philip Simpson said: “I have been installing these systems for just over two months.
“There have been seven customers who have had this done and so far there have been no complaints.”
Some experts are sceptical about the claims made about Hydrogen on Demand and say it makes little difference to car performance however. A spokesman from the AA said: “We have been asked about several fuel-saving devices and the majority appear to be of benefit.
“This one is slightly different inasmuch as the principle is OK, the problem is that the system can’t produce enough hydrogen to make a meaningful difference.
“As it’s an add-on device the engine’s fuel and ignition system won’t have been set up to take advantage of the hydrogen.”
Source; The Press and Journal
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