Industrial gas giant Air Liquide to build 12 hydrogen fuel stations in northeast U.S.
by Cleantech Canada Staff
In partnership with Toyota, the fuel stations aim to support the widespread roll-out of fuel cell vehicles
The infrastructure is designed to support the introduction of mass-market FCVs, such as the Toyota Mirai, seen here on the production line at the fuel cell stack installation stage. PHOTO: Toyota
HOUSTON—French industrial gas company Air Liquide is looking to get into the U.S. hydrogen economy on the ground floor.
The multinational firm’s American arm has announced the locations of four planned hydrogen fuel stations in the northeast U.S., and detailed plans to build a total of 12 clean-burning fuel stops across the region.
“Air Liquide firmly believes in the potential of hydrogen as a clean and reliable source of energy for the transportation sector, both in the United States and worldwide,” Ole Hoefelmann, CEO of the company’s Advanced Technologies division in the U.S., said. “We are deeply committed to enabling the widespread deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technology and the required infrastructure.”
Connecticut and New York will each host one of the initial stations, in Hartford and the Bronx, respectively, while Massachusetts be play host to two, in Braintree and Mansfield.
The initial four fuel pumps will be some of the first public hydrogen stations in the northeast U.S. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, there are currently two public hydrogen stations in New England, and just 23 nationally. As with battery electric vehicle adoption, California leads all other U.S. states in hydrogen infrastructure development, housing 20 of the fuel stops.
Partnering with Toyota Motor Corp. on the project, Air Liquide said the network will support the roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including the Japanese automaker’s Mirai. The 12-station network will eventually stretch across five states, spanning 300 miles, and will add to the company’s tally of 75 hydrogen stations installed worldwide.
Slated to open to the public by early 2017, the stations can fuel a vehicle in approximately five minutes.
