Hydrogen refueling station in Ulm opens; 21 HRS now in Germany
15 July 2016
The network of hydrogen filling stations in Germany is growing: Daimler, Linde, Total, and the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) jointly hosted the official opening of another hydrogen fuel pump in Ulm. After openings at the Geiselwind motorway service area, at two locations in Berlin, and a station in Fellbach, Baden-Württemberg, the partners have now taken a further step towards a nationwide H2 supply network.
To date, 21 hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) have been completed in Germany. They are funded as research and development projects by the German federal government through the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP). The existing filling stations already reach some six million people in the metropolitan regions of Berlin, Hamburg, the Rhine/Ruhr, Stuttgart and Munich. Seven stations are located in Baden-Württemberg alone, with five more planned in the region.
Within the NIP expansion program, Daimler and Linde are participating in a total of 20 new H2 stations with a total investment of around €20 million (US$22.2 million). Total operates the hydrogen pump in Ulm and paid for its construction.
Located on the grounds of ZSW on Helmholtzstraße, the new station is part of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP). Its official opening was attended by senior representatives of the companies involved, as well as representatives from the federal government and the Baden-Württemberg Environment Ministry.
At that rate, Germany may be the first country with 100+ H2 stations in operation.
Many other countries/states will follow and by 2020, 10+ countries/states may have 300+ H2 stations in operation?
Posted by: HarveyD | 15 July 2016 at 08:44 AM
The key will be getting a decent powered sedan that costs in $30k range, it will take the replacement of platinum to achieve that pricepoint. Toyota is subsidizing the PEM fuel cell to be the early market leader, but without a major reduction in precious metals the hydrogen fuel cell will tough to be affordably priced.
The refueling sites will grow expotentialy when this technology pricepoint is below $20,000 for the FC.
Posted by: solarsurfer | 15 July 2016 at 12:50 PM
Wake-up everybody, all that has been subsidized in the past have gone bankrupt so hydrogen will not make money and will go bankrupt anyway. It's easy to know that small gas cars are the way to go and are sustainable. Don't buy hydrogen and stay honest toward the taxpayer and elect d. trump because he know that climate change is a scam to ruin the industry. Look at this report in the wall street financial magazine
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/09/24/donald-trump-i-dont-believe-in-climate-change/
Posted by: gorr | 16 July 2016 at 07:50 AM
Bio-fuel FCs may become an alternative for long haul heavy trucks, city and intercity buses and FC-electric locomotives. Range would be limited to the size of the onboard ethanol tank and be as good if not better than current diesel units.
Using FCs for those heavy units would reduce GHG and air pollution and would not need electric overhead cables.
Many countries, such as USA, Russia, Argentina, Brazil and Canada, could produce bio-ethanol in suffisant quantities to progressively switch over in about 10 to 15 years?
Posted by: HarveyD | 16 July 2016 at 08:09 AM
Ahhhh, how cute! We're debating unicorn farts to drive cars.
Posted by: DaveD | 17 July 2016 at 06:58 AM