System and method for enabling the real time buying and selling of electricity generated by fuel cell powered vehicles

A method for enabling the real time buying and selling of electrical power between a vehicle having a fuel cell power unit and an energy service provider, the method comprising:

• (i) providing connections to at least one vehicle for the supply of a fuel and for transfer of electricity;
• (ii) handing over control of the fuel cell power unit of each vehicle to an energy service provider;
• (iii) the energy service provider determining when to operate the fuel cell power unit of each vehicle and setting the load level for each fuel cell power unit;
• and
• (iv) when fuel is consumed by each vehicle and electricity generated by each vehicle, collecting data on the quantity of fuel consumed and amounts of electricity generated, and calculating the cost of the fuel and the value of the electricity generated.

A method of generating electrical power utilizing fuel cell power units of vehicles, the method comprising;

• (1) providing connections to a plurality of fuel cell powered vehicle for the supply of a fuel and for transfer of electricity from the vehicle;
• (2) supplying fuel to each vehicle and charging for fuel used by each vehicle;
• (3) receiving electricity generated by each vehicle and paying for the electricity at a first, interruptible rate;
• and
• (4) aggregating the electricity generated by the plurality of vehicles, and reselling the aggregated electricity as an uninterruptible electrical supply at a higher, uninterruptible rate.

A method of generating electricity from the fuel cell power unit of a fuel cell powered vehicle. The method comprising;

• (1) supplying fuel to the vehicle;
• (2) generating electricity in the fuel cell power unit and transferring the electricity from the vehicle;
• (3) dividing the generated electricity into first and second portions, and consuming the first portion of generated electricity locally;
• (4) transmitting and selling the second portion of generated electricity to an electricity transmission and distribution grid;
• and
• (5) metering the net amount of electricity transmitted to the transmission and distribution grid, or taken from the transmission and distribution grid, in a set time period.

A method of generating electrical power from a vehicle including a fuel cell power unit and financing the cost of the vehicle, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a fuel cell powered vehicle to a vehicle operator;
• (b) having the vehicle operator enter into a contract providing for at least one of an initial lump sum payment and regular payments to cover at least part of the cost of the vehicle;
• (c) providing in the contract for the operator to commit to parking the vehicle at selected docking stations for generation of electricity;
• (d) when the vehicle is parked at one of said selected docking stations, supplying fuel to a vehicle, generating electricity from the fuel cell power unit of the vehicle and selling the electricity;
• and
• (e) utilizing income generated from sale of electricity to cover part of the cost of the vehicle.

A system for enabling fuel cell powered vehicles to generate electricity and provide electricity for utilization off the vehicles, the system comprising:

• a plurality of vehicles, each including an inverter for inverting DC power into AC Dower, at least one AC drive motor, and an input for synchronizing the inverter on each vehicle with an electricity transmission grid;
• a plurality of docking stations, each docking station providing for supply of fuel to the vehicle and transmission of electricity from each vehicle;
• connection means for providing a connection between the docking stations and an electricity consumer;
• and a communication network for providing communication between each vehicle and at least one energy service provider.