BOC, Tongji University & Shell Hydrogen to Build 1st Hydrogen Refuelling Station in Shanghai

12 May 2006

The BOC Group plc—a leading industrial gas company—and Tongji University have signed a Letter of Intent to build the first hydrogen refuelling station in Shanghai. This project is part of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s national programme to commercialize fuel cell vehicles in China.

Shell, which is funding part of the project, is working with Tongji University on the design, construction, maintenance and operations of the refuelling station. (Earlier post.)

The station is due to be completed by the end of 2006 and will refuel three buses and 20 cars. Shanghai is targeting some 1,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles by 2010 for the hosting of the World Expo including a number of fuel cell buses sponsored by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Program.

The project team led by Tongji University will be responsible overall for the project. BOC will provide engineering and procurement services needed to deliver the packaged hydrogen compression, storage, dispensing system and trucked in compressed gas hydrogen for the new station.

BOC has previously participated in trials with hydrogen-fueled buses in London, Detroit, Vancouver and Perth, Australia.