Some technologies quickly change the market, but others have more hurdles to clear, even though they may show great potential. Alternative fuels often fall into that group. Dissatisfied with the status quo, students from the University of Toronto are determined to give hydrogen technology a boost.
The problem with hydrogen fuel cells is that vehicles utilizing the technology won’t sell unless there are compatible fueling stations. No one wants to build a station unless there is a demand for the fuel.So a multidisciplinary team decided to take advantage of opportunities at the University and start up some change.
The students, majoring in chemical engineering, environmental studies and engineering science, partnered together to accelerate the slow-moving hydrogen fuel cell industry. Their plan includes starting small; they’re planning to test the commercial viability of the project using the school’s shuttle bus route between campuses. But small is nowhere in their long-term plan.
An idea can’t get very far without support, both financially and otherwise, but the University of Toronto provided the launching pad they needed. They applied for a spot at the Entrepreneurship Hatchery. According to their website, the Hatchery is committed to providing an, “experiential learning opportunity [which] will provide the resources, mentorship and community to turn ideas into successful start-ups.”
The team was successful in their application and has created Hydron, “a venture dedicated to providing innovative, clean transportation solutions using Hydrogen.” The business plan centers on making it easier for commercial outfits to switch to hydrogen power. They will provide the vehicles and refueling stations together, a tactic which bypasses the “chicken and egg” issue.
They describe it this way, “Hydron makes it easy for our customers to green their fleets by offering the complete operation of the fuel cell buses, the refueling infrastructure and the required maintenance for long term contracts through a simple per km pricing scheme, limiting the customer's liability and risk in this clean tech investment.”
Fuel cell transportation has been done before. The problem is not the technology. Advancements continue to be made in hydrogen generation and safety. Hydron is looking to bridge the gap between viable technology and commercial adoption. Ultimately, they are looking to make it easier to embrace clean energy.
The video below describes Hydron's business plan.
Images: University of Toronto