Patent ID: 7968237

Claim:
A method for producing electricity, comprising the steps of: receiving hydrocarbon fuel; reforming said hydrocarbon fuel to produce a fuel gas in a reformer; separating the fuel gas into a first fuel stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide and a second fuel stream containing substantially pure hydrogen; providing the first fuel stream to a solid oxide fuel cell; operating the solid oxide fuel cell to provide a first source of electrical energy; storing the substantially pure hydrogen from the second fuel stream in a first hydrogen storage means; providing the substantially pure hydrogen to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell; operating the proton exchange membrane fuel cell to provide a second source of electrical energy; storing electrical energy from at least one of the first source of electrical energy and the second source of electrical energy in at least one electrical storage means; and delivering electrical energy from at least one of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, the solid oxide fuel cell, and the at least one electrical storage means to an electrical load; wherein the proton exchange membrane fuel cell is operated as needed to provide a supplemental level of electric power to meet peak electrical power demands in excess of the electrical power provided by the solid oxide fuel cell and the at least one electrical storage means; wherein the at least one electrical storage means includes a first electrical storage means that is configured to store electrical energy from the first source of electrical energy and a second electrical storage means that is configured to store electrical energy from the second source of electrical energy; wherein the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, the second electrical storage means, and a second hydrogen storage means are incorporated into a vehicle and the solid oxide fuel cell, the first electrical storage means, and the first hydrogen storage means are incorporated into a stationary base that is connectable to said vehicle so as to provide hydrogen and/or electrical energy to said vehicle.