Hyundai North America joins Shell Hydrogen’s Project Neptune to grow hydrogen refueling infrastructure in California
09 October 2021
Hyundai Motor North America (HMNA) has joined Equilon Enterprises LLC (d/b/a Shell Oil Products US), also referred to as Shell Hydrogen, in Project Neptune to grow the hydrogen refueling infrastructure in California.
Project Neptune seeks the construction of 48 additional and two upgraded hydrogen refueling stations across the state beginning in 2021. Two other fuel cell vehicle manufacturers—Toyota and Honda—have also joined the consortium with respective agreements for fuel cell vehicle sales to support infrastructure growth.
The project is to develop hydrogen refueling stations by adding hydrogen storage, compression, and dispensing equipment with an estimated maximum footprint of 2,000 square feet and trenching of up to 100 feet at existing retail gasoline stations. The storage tanks will hold 600 and 1,200 kg of hydrogen at 55 bar. The hydrogen station will dispense at 770 and 1,420 kg per 24 hour period.
In its portion of the agreement, Hyundai has committed to fuel cell vehicle sales growth supporting the expanding hydrogen infrastructure.
We’re proud to join Shell Hydrogen’s ‘Project Neptune’, expanding California’s hydrogen infrastructure to meet increasing consumer demand for clean, zero-emission transportation solutions. Hyundai offers a superb fuel cell vehicle in its NEXO SUV, and this effort will help ensure that every eco-focused fuel cell driver has convenient refueling options wherever they choose to go.
—Olabisi Boyle, vice president of Product Planning and Mobility Strategy, Hyundai Motor North America
Hydrogen refueling infrastructure growth is critical to increase consumer adoption of zero-emission fuel cell vehicles rapidly. By joining Project Neptune, Hyundai reinforces its commitment to fuel cell technologies and their positive impact on the environment, a key pillar of its long-range strategic vision.
The new hydrogen stations will be partially funded by public funds from the California Energy Commission (CEC).
This agreement with Shell Hydrogen furthers Hyundai’s global relationship with the energy company. In March 2021, Hyundai Motor Company signed a new five-year Global Business Cooperation Agreement with Royal Dutch Shell plc to expand collaboration on clean energy solutions.
Clearly a major change building on the new expansion of fuel cell pack expansion from Hyundai, and also from Toyota.
BEV purists will be horrified, as they love to preach that there is no alternative to lugging around several hundred kilos of batteries, and that if anyone cannot conveniently plug in that is their problem.
I'd like to see a comparable effort in the NE States, as there the cold weather advantages of fuel cell systems are important.
As for the old saw about efficiencies, which dragged along the notion of BEV only solutions, Toyota are bringing in PHEV hybrid configurations, and there is nothing efficient from a resource point of view in producing and lugging around several hundred kilos of batteries which are only used in long runs, which batteries enthusiasts never weary of telling us are only a small proportion of total mileage anyway.
And the notion that ZEV vehicles have to be just focused on fuel economy arose when renewables were expensive, and batteries to store it very, very expensive.
Costs of renewables have fallen massively, and electrolysers are now following them.
There is no reason to restrict ZEV vehicles to as far as an extension cord can reach.
I am all in favor of BEVs, but not at any price, and not as a sole solution.
BEVs and FCEVs are a much more powerful combination than either on their own.
Posted by: Davemart | 09 October 2021 at 02:57 AM
The resistance to and number of explosion hazards is reason to prioritize BEV versus FCEV tech.
Posted by: GdB | 09 October 2021 at 04:26 PM
Interesting take:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AOJHdJxMeY
Posted by: Lad | 09 October 2021 at 10:13 PM
@GdB
Did you somehow miss the numerous battery fires in BEVs?
They are incredibly hard to put out, and use many thousands of gallons of water, which then contaminates the ground water.
Hydrogen in contrast escapes upwards, rapidly, not pooling like petrol and the systems in cars have escape valves which release away from the passenger compartment.
Do you take the facts which you appear to have been ignorant of as a reason now to prioritize FCEVs over BEVs?
Or did you simply seize on fires as a specious justification for your prejudices?
Any energy source powerful enough to propel a car has risks if the engineering is not done right.
Posted by: Davemart | 10 October 2021 at 02:37 AM
And the color of the hydrogen is? I am guessing grey with vague promises to work on becoming blue. If you even halfway believe the link that Lad posted, you are probably better off just burning the natural gas as you are at least recovering more of the energy available in the natural gas in exchange for the CO2 emitted.
Posted by: sd | 11 October 2021 at 09:56 AM
The present color of H2 may be anything but "green". The overall efficiency of electric power derived from fuel cell combustion is miserable beyond description. Renewable energy is purely wasted to produce that "renowned" H2.
Some 60 + years ago I learned in high school that distilled water hat an extreme affinity to minerals. Drinking distilled water for 2 to 3 days in a row would demineralize the body and lead to inevitable death.
Some years later - whilst working in the lab - I learned something unintentionally about the aggressiveness of distilled water. I would definitely question the potential results of distilled water trickling out of the exhaust of a fuel cell. What would happen to the macadam surface of roads being sprayed from millions of vehicles? Distilled water gathering in the slots of the roads would certainly not prove to be beneficial to the tires and the rest of the vehicles' body passing over them etc. etc.. Such points are intentionally avoided by proponents of H2 to circumvent potential opposition.
Posted by: yoatmon | 12 October 2021 at 06:24 AM