What You Should Know About Hydrogen Conversion Kits: Hydrogen Energy: Eco20/20

What You Should Know About Hydrogen Conversion Kits

In an effort to beat oil dependence and save money, many drivers are looking toward alternatively fueled vehicles as an option. Hydrogen power seems the most promising overall, since it is cheap to run and is very low maintenance. Hydrogen cars currently on the market have a price tag that puts them well out of reach of the average consumer and fuel cell cars are not available on a massive scale.

What can the average car lover do?

Many think the answer is in hydrogen conversion of existing vehicles. Is this option right for you? There are many things to consider before deciding when and how to have your vehicle converted.

Possible downsides to this idea - hydrogen-refilling stations are not really available for most of us at this time. This means that a large majority of us would have to produce and store our own hydrogen, which can be dangerous, if not done correctly. There is also the problem of performing the actual conversion. If you are not mechanically inclined, this should be done by a professional mechanic and can be quite costly. For do-it-yourselfers, the cost may be substantially lower, but prices for conversion kits can be expensive, with some costing several hundred dollars. Even if you have mechanical ability, some of the kits require a very high level of knowledge and ability to correctly install them. Although these hurdles may seem a bit daunting, they can all be easily overcome and the payout is well worth it.

A solution to the lack of refilling stations is to create and store your own hydrogen. It is true that hydrogen is quite flammable and may be dangerous if not handled correctly. Hydrogen handling can easily be done, however, by making sure your storage meets State and Federal guidelines and by researching and following safe handling procedures. It is also a good idea to check local zoning laws to ensure that hydrogen storage is allowed in your area.

If you choose to do your own conversion, make sure you compare several guides and kits to find the one that best fits your needs. Be cautious because not all guides are dependable. Choose the type of conversion that best fits your budget and ability level. Available choices range from DIY instructions using a mason jar to full kits that need only be installed.

With all these problems, why would anyone want to attempt hydrogen conversion? That's an easy answer. Hydrogen conversion will work on 99% of vehicles and do not have to be model-specific. Even though it can be somewhat pricey, the 30-60% fuel savings it will gain you will be. In some instances, there may even be a government rebate available for converting your car to hydrogen. The best reason to convert, though, is the fact that hydrogen engines produce NO harmful pollutants. The only bi-product is water. Plus, when your friends and neighbors see how much money you are saving, they will likely want to convert as well. Imagine the benefit to the environment if everyone you personally know switched to hydrogen fuel. That is an advantage that far outweighs the minor obstacles involved.