Looking for an H2i Technology alternative?
The most common reason operators look past an alkaline-type hydrogen system is the electrolyte: mixing it, storing it, topping it up, keeping its mist out of the intake and eventually disposing of it. PEM electrolysis removes that chemical entirely. This page explains the difference in practical terms and lists what to verify before switching supplier.
Trademark notice. H2i Technology is a trademark of its respective owner. This is an independent comparison published by HydroHub™ (YBG Group International Pty Ltd). HydroHub™ is not affiliated with, authorised by, sponsored by or endorsed by H2i Technology. Statements about their products are summarised from their own public material and may change — verify at source before making a purchase decision.
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What is a good alternative to H2i Technology?
HydroHub's PEM range covers the same diesel truck, heavy equipment and generator-set applications without a caustic electrolyte. Ion conduction happens in a solid polymer membrane, the only consumable liquid is deionised water, and the gas delivered to the intake is 99.991% pure combined H₂/O₂. Pricing is published across five SKUs matched to engine displacement from 1.0 L to 16.0 L, with DDP worldwide delivery and a single-unit trial path before any fleet commitment.
- PEM solid-polymer membrane — deionised water only, no caustic KOH electrolyte
- 99.991% combined H₂/O₂ purity, no electrolyte carry-over into the intake
- Sized by engine displacement: 1.0 L through 16.0 L across five SKUs
- Published pricing and direct purchase — no register-interest gate
- Reversible intake-side fitment, no ECU or fuel-system modification
- Maintenance: deionised water top-up plus resin filter every 6–9 months
- Cell type
- PEM membrane
- Gas purity
- 99.991% H₂/O₂
- Electrolyte
- None (pure water)
- Range
- 1.0 L – 16.0 L
HydroHub™ PEM compared with H2i Technology.
| Criterion | HydroHub™ (PEM) | H2i Technology (alkaline-type) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrolysis technology | PEM solid-polymer membrane, deionised water only | Alkaline-type electrolysis using an electrolyte solution |
| Electrolyte handling | None — no caustic chemical on site | Electrolyte mixing, top-up, monitoring and disposal |
| Gas purity into intake | 99.991% combined H₂/O₂, no electrolyte carry-over | Electrolyte-mist carry-over must be managed by the unit design |
| Product line breadth | Five SKUs spanning 1.0 L to 16.0 L displacement | Model range oriented to diesel trucks and heavy equipment |
| Pricing transparency | Published prices for the standard range | Quoted through enquiry or distributor contact |
| Fitment | Intake-side, reversible, no ECU or fuel-system change | Intake-side fitment with vendor-specified installation |
| Consumables | Deionised water plus resin filter every 6–9 months | Electrolyte and water replenishment schedule |
| Ownership model | Direct purchase — buy it and trial it yourself | Typically distributor-mediated supply |
Competitor details are summarised from publicly available vendor material and the generally established characteristics of the electrolysis technology described. Specifications change — verify current details directly with the vendor before purchasing. Corrections are welcome via the contact page.
Six checks before you commit to either option.
Cell chemistry and on-site hazards
Ask whether the unit runs a caustic electrolyte (typically potassium hydroxide) or pure deionised water. Electrolyte systems add mixing, storage, spill and disposal obligations, and introduce electrolyte-mist carry-over risk on the intake side.
Sizing basis
A gas flow rate in litres per minute is only meaningful against an engine displacement and duty cycle. Ask which displacement band a unit is rated for, not just its peak output figure.
Commercial model
Published pricing, lead times and a defined warranty are straightforward to evaluate. Register-interest and enquiry-only models make total cost and delivery timing difficult to compare before committing.
Validation pathway
You should be able to buy a single unit, fit it to your own equipment and measure the result before any fleet-wide decision. Treat vendor-reported percentages as a hypothesis to test, never as a guarantee.
Emissions obligations
Particulate matter and visible smoke are commonly reported to fall with hydrogen enrichment, while oxides of nitrogen can rise where combustion temperature increases. If you hold an emissions obligation, account for that trade-off before fitment.
Serviceability and spares
Confirm what the consumable schedule is, what a replacement stack or filter costs, and how spares reach your location. Remote sites should confirm this before, not after, deployment.
Match the unit to displacement, not to a competitor model number.
| System | Engine displacement | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| HydroHub™ A-450 | 1.0–1.8 L | Light vehicles, small portable gensets, auxiliary sets |
| HydroHub™ A-675 | 2.0–2.5 L | Larger utes, light trucks, small stationary gensets |
| HydroHub™ A-900 | 2.7–7.0 L | Medium trucks, agricultural tractors, mid-size gensets |
| HydroHub™ H-Power | Up to 7.0 L | Heavy-duty road transport, high-hour mobile gensets |
| HydroHub™ DH-Power | Up to 16.0 L | Prime movers, mining haul, marine, continuous-duty gensets |
Full sizing methodology is set out in sizing combined gas for internal combustion engines, and the technology difference is covered in PEM vs alkaline.
Settle the comparison with your own data.
- Choose one asset that runs a repeatable duty cycle and capture at least two weeks of baseline fuel data against a normalised output measure (L/100 km, or L/kWh for gensets).
- Record load, route or load factor, ambient conditions and fuel type — these dominate the result more than the device does.
- Fit the displacement-matched unit on the intake side and confirm water quality and filter condition at commissioning.
- Repeat the identical duty cycle for a matching period post-fitment.
- Compare normalised fuel figures, never total litres burned.
- Log visible smoke separately, and account for the NOx trade-off if you carry an emissions obligation.
Buy one, trial it yourself.
Published pricing and direct purchase mean you do not need a sales process to start. Buy a single displacement-matched unit, measure it on your own equipment, and scale only if the numbers hold.
H2i Technology comparison — questions.
Is HydroHub™ a direct replacement for H2i Technology?
- It addresses the same objective — improving combustion efficiency by introducing hydrogen and oxygen on the intake side — using PEM electrolysis and deionised water rather than an electrolyte-based cell. Fitment is intake-side and reversible in both cases, so switching does not require engine or fuel-system modification. The correct unit is selected by engine displacement rather than by matching a competitor model number.
What efficiency improvement is realistic?
- HydroHub caps its published expectation at up to 15% combustion efficiency improvement. Independent literature on hydrogen-enriched diesel combustion reports a wide spread depending on engine, load and enrichment rate. Steady high-load duty cycles sit at the upper end of that range; light or highly variable loads sit at the lower end. Any percentage — from any supplier — should be treated as something to verify on your own equipment.
Why does the absence of a caustic electrolyte matter?
- PEM electrolysis carries the ion-conducting function in a solid polymer membrane, so the only consumable liquid is deionised water. Electrolyte-based cells circulate a potassium-hydroxide-type solution, which brings handling, storage, spill and disposal obligations, and creates a carry-over path for electrolyte mist toward the intake. For remote sites and mixed-skill maintenance teams, removing that chemical removes a category of risk.
Does switching affect my engine warranty?
- The system is fitted on the intake side and is fully reversible. No injector, fuel-system or ECU calibration change is made. Even so, operators under an active OEM warranty should confirm the position with their OEM or dealer before fitment, and retain the installation record.
What about emissions?
- Reported effects differ by pollutant. Particulate matter and visible smoke are commonly reported to fall. Oxides of nitrogen can rise where peak combustion temperatures increase. This is a genuine trade-off, disclosed openly here, and it must be accounted for by any operator holding an emissions obligation.
How should the comparison actually be settled?
- With data from your own equipment. Capture at least two weeks of baseline fuel consumption against a normalised output measure — litres per 100 km, or litres per kWh for generator sets — then fit the correctly sized unit and repeat the same duty cycle for a matching period. Compare normalised figures, not total fuel burned.
Where do the competitor descriptions on this page come from?
- Publicly available vendor material and generally established characteristics of the electrolysis technology in question. Specifications change; verify current details with the vendor directly before making a purchase decision. Corrections can be sent through the contact page.
Keep comparing.
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No projected, typical or expected fuel-saving figure is published. Actual results vary materially with engine condition, duty cycle, load profile, fuel quality, installation and operating conditions. A controlled field evaluation on your own equipment, with baseline data captured before installation, is required before any commercial projection.