[Wonder Warthog]

"Would it be possible to build units, say about the size of a refrigerator, that could produce electricity for a home? Aside from a Honda generator type thing, of course. Could we all have little boxes in our basements that run on natural gas or propane?"

Research in this area is very heavy. I seem to recall that "some" units are available in the 10KW size range, but haven't read enough about them to give details. Perhaps not surprisingly, a MAJOR driver in that size range is the military, given their growing need for small, LIGHT, reliable, highly efficient sources of electrical power to drive all the new combat electronic and computer systems.

[Solson]

There are smaller units used every day by switching facilities for telcom companies around the globe. I believe there are some fuel cells in the 20kW range but the prices are quite high.

Stick with the Honda. :)