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Oslo mayor Fabian Stang (centre) greets the new generation of hydrogen cars with a big smile. Photo: SINTEF / Werner Juvik |
Together with the 17 new Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles showcased in Oslo the refuelling station puts Norway on the international map for zero emission vehicles.
The new station in Gaustad, Oslo is the first one in Norway where the hydrogen is produced exclusively by water and electricity, which in this case is entirely renewable. With no other emission than water vapor, any fuel cell car using this station is an actual zero emission vehicle.
EU-financed demonstration program
The new station and the large number of FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) result from the largest EU-financed demonstration program for hydrogen and fuel cell cars, a program where SINTEF is one of four Norwegian participants.
The H2moves Scandinavia project has a total budget of nearly 20 million euro and the aim is to accelerate the market introduction of hydrogen powered FCEVs by gaining customer acceptance for the technology.
Greetings from Hyundai...
The opening ceremony at SINTEF was also the Korean car manufacturer Hyundai’s first showing of their hydrogen powered SUV ix35 FCEV to the Norwegian hydrogen project. The Nordic countries signed a letter of intent together with Hyundai earlier this year, aiming for advancing hydrogen as a fuel and preparing a market for fuel cell electric vehicles.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: “Hyundai believes hydrogen-powered vehicles will play an important role in guaranteeing the long-term sustainability of the European auto industry. The ix35 FCEV boasts the same convenience and performance as a conventional vehicle thanks to a top speed of 160 kilometres-per-hour, a driving range of 525 kilometers and the ability to start in temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius.
... and from Daimler
The cars in the project will be leased to private and industrial customers and used on an everyday basis. This will allow for a better understanding of regular customers’ satisfaction regarding the technology. The Nordic climate will be an additional check on how the fuel cells perform in real life.
Ten of the project cars are Mercedes-Benz B-class F-CELL.
“Electric vehicles with fuel cells are ready for the market and we will start with the serial production in 2014 already. But since alternative drives require alternative infrastructures, we work closely together with partners from governments, energy providers and several automobile manufacturers”, says Prof. Herbert Kohler, Vice President eDrive & Future Mobility of Daimler AG.
Refuelling station from H2 Logic
The hydrogen station at SINTEF is manufactured by the Danish company H2 Logic and provides fast refueling of hydrogen in 3 minutes and a comparable range to gasoline on one refueling. This way hydrogen enables electric driving with the same convenience as gasoline.
“The new hydrogen station in Oslo provides a significant step forward in ensuring a refuelling network in Norway as well as Scandinavia. It paves way for the market introduction of fuel cell vehicles. Next step is to ensure support mechanisms together with governments”, states Jacob Krogsgaard director of H2 Logic A/S.
The project´s cars in Oslo
• Ten Mercedes-Benz B-class F-CELL from Daimler, range 380 km
• Two Hyundai ix35 FCEV, range 525 km
• Five Think city cars. Originally a battery electric car, now equipped with a fuel cell range extender, allowing a 250 km range
The Gaustad hydrogen refueling station
• 3 minutes refueling time in accordance with international standards
• High fueling pressure enabling comparable range as gasoline on one refueling
• Capacity to refuel up to 500 cars in a network on annual basis
• Onsite production of hydrogen using electricity to split water
• Electricity based on hydro power and CO2 certificates thus zero emission
• Station is manufactured by H2 Logic A/S www.h2logic.com
