In an effort to further accelerate the growth in Europe of alternative transportation fuel, Shell has announced it will install a nationwide network of hydrogen fueling pumps at retail sites in Germany starting in 2016.
Shell, which opened its first hydrogen station in Germany in 2011, has signed a declaration of intent with its H2 Mobility Germany joint venture partners and Germany's federal transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt. The partners include Air Liquide, Daimler, Linde, OMV and Total. Shell says the deal will lead to hydrogen fueling pumps being available at around 400 locations across the country by 2023.
“Hydrogen-fueled electric vehicles could play a key part in a low-carbon, low-emission, future,” says Oliver Bishop, general manager of hydrogen at Shell. “It will take technical innovation and bold policies to transform the global energy system into a progressively cleaner, less-carbon-intensive one. H2 Mobility Germany shows what we can achieve through close collaboration between governments and business. The next step is for consumers to embrace this opportunity and consider buying hydrogen vehicles as they become available.”
Shell currently operates three hydrogen stations in Germany, including one in Berlin and two in Hamburg. Shell anticipates the first four new fueling points will be installed at existing retail sites in Frankfurt, Wuppertal, Geisingen and Wendingen. According to the company, the pumps at these sites will refuel hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) in a few minutes.
Shell says it has another two demonstration hydrogen filling stations in Los Angeles that allow the company to evaluate a range of technologies, drive down costs and better understand consumer behavior.
The company is assessing the potential for more stations in the U.S., the U.K., Switzerland, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
