Shell Opening First Cluster of Hydrogen Filling Stations in NYC Area

14 July 2009

Shell has opened its second hydrogen filling station in the greater New York City area. With a third due to open in the area later this month and one already operating there for more than a year, this is Shell’s first cluster of hydrogen filling stations.

The newly-opened station at JFK international airport is the result of a partnership between Shell, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the US Department of Energy and General Motors. A third station in the Bronx, due to open late in July, has been developed with the New York City Department of Sanitation. A station has been operating in the City of White Plains, New York, since April 2008.

The prospects for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are strong in the longer-term. This first cluster is an important step as we continue to build capability in retailing hydrogen fuel, in line with the auto makers’ plans to develop hydrogen vehicles.

—Duncan Macleod, Shell Vice President of Hydrogen

The three hydrogen stations in New York are within approximately 30 miles (50 km) of each other.

The overall CO₂ footprint of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle depends on how the hydrogen has been produced and its journey to the vehicle. Today most hydrogen is made from natural gas; there is the potential for very low or zero-carbon hydrogen to be produced at scale, according to Shell.

Shell buys the majority of hydrogen for its filling stations from third parties. However, Shell does produce hydrogen from electricity on site (via electrolysis) in three of its stations (Santa Monica, CA; White Plains, New York; and Reykjavik, Iceland). Shell is conducting research into lower CO₂ hydrogen.

Shell currently provides six filling stations, in collaboration with auto makers, local authorities and universities. These are in Tokyo, Reykjavik, Shanghai, Washington DC, Los Angeles and New York.

Some stations are specialized sites, used by agreed vehicles only. Others, namely Washington DC and Los Angeles, are on every-day filling stations at busy intersections, where drivers can also buy gasoline and diesel.

The dispensers at the JFK international airport station will provide hydrogen at both 350 bar and 700 bar pressure. The Bronx station will provide hydrogen at 700 bar pressure.