14 DAY TRIAL // Not only Honda brags with developing the world's first dedicated platform hydrogen vehicle but now, the first open access hydrogen vehicle refueling station in the UK is located on its grounds.
The Honda plant in Swindon inaugurated the new station yesterday, making it available to anyone developing or using hydrogen-powered vehicles - such as the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car.
According to Honda, the station can fill vehicles at both 350 bar and 700 bar, the two standard filling pressures adopted by the world’s major vehicle manufacturers.
What’s more, it can fill vehicles ‘back-to-back’ from a bank of hydrogen cylinders. This means that vehicles can be filled one after another without having to wait for more hydrogen to be generated.
Another interesting feature is the design. Specifically, the fact that it looks like a conventional filling station and the time to fill a vehicle is comparable with conventional fuels. The Honda FCX Clarity, for example, takes less than five minutes.
The purpose of this fully operational, commercial-scale station that uses tested technology, is to offer a solution that can be replicated across the country and so create the essential network necessary for the widespread uptake of hydrogen-powered transport.
“The change from conventional transport systems to sustainable, low carbon alternatives is one that can only be made through businesses and government working in partnership to develop innovative solutions,” said Richard Kemp-Harper, Lead Technologist for Transport and Energy at the Technology Strategy Board.
Also, Mike Huggon, Managing Director of BOC in the UK and Ireland, believes that the new station proves that an infrastructure needed to establish a hydrogen-powered transport system can be built. However, not without support from the Government.
“Hydrogen fuel cell technology is the ultimate transport solution; meeting environmental demands but also delivering the range and performance that customers expect,” added Thomas Brachmann, Head of Electrical Powertrain R&D at Honda.