Fuel Cell Bus Tests To Provide Electricity After Natural Disasters

A natural disaster can hit a region very bad and once it does, this area might be left without power and electricity. To present a solution for the issue, Toyota and Honda are starting tests this month on their "Moving e system", a mobile fuel cell power supply bus that will provide electricity for disaster-hit communities.

The plan for the charging station bus is to be able to function within a 62 miles (100 km) of a hydrogen refueling station.

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Power generation and output system

The mobile Moving e system will comprise Toyota's fuel cell bus, two Power Exporter 9000 portable power stations from Honda, 20 LiB-AID E500, 36 Honda Mobile Power Pack portable battery packs, and charger/dischargers for Mobile Power Packs, from Honda as well. 

According to the plan, the entire system is designed to generate 454 kWh with a 18 kW output.

The system will work by driving the Charging Station to the required location, where the Moving e kicks in to provide electricity. Portable external power output devices and portable batteries will work together to take electricity from the fuel cell bus, which will essentially act as a power source, and transition electricity to devices and appliances. 

Aside from generating electricity, the Charging Station will also provide a resting area for people affected by the disasters.

Testing of the various parts of the fuel cell bus begin this month to ensure it can function in a number of different disaster case scenarios. 

If all goes well with the testing process, the fuel cell bus will be deployed as a "phase-free" system, which means that it will be used in disaster-affected areas to support places such as evacuations centers, and in regular times it will be also generating power during events such as festivals or concerts. Quite a diversity.