11.9.2003
Scandinavia's first public hydrogen filling station opens

The first public hydrogen filling station in Skandinavia opened today in the Swedish city of Malmö. Visiting the station was GM/Opel's HydroGen3 prototype with fuel-cell propulsion system.

The hydrogen age for road transportation was kicked off in Skandinavia today with the opening of its first public hydrogen filling station in the Swedish city of Malmö. The first vehicle to visit the pump was GM/Opel's HydroGen3 prototype with fuel-cell propulsion system.

The filling station is operated by the Swedish-based power supply enterprise, Sydkraft, in which Europe's biggest power and gas company, E.ON AG, holds a majority stake.

The environmentally friendly fuel is produced directly on site from water using electrolysis and the electric energy needed for this is generated with wind power. The President of Sydkraft Gas, Per Lindell, said: "We want to demonstrate here that hydrogen is a clean, renewable fuel." The facility is designed for a production capacity of 700 normal cubic meters (Nm3) a day, which is enough to fill approximately 25 passengercar tanks.

The GM/Opel prototype, "HydroGen3 compressed 700", is based on the Opel Zafira Compact Van. Its hydrogen pressure tank is designed for up to 700 bar, giving it a range of 270 kilometers. The energy for the 60 kW/82 hp electric engine of the HydroGen3 is provided by an on-board fuel-cell stack consisting of 200 individual cells.

Just how far the HydroGen3 has come on its way to volume production is demonstrated by the overall construction of the propulsion unit. Through innovative packaging, it can now be made so compact that it can be built into the vehicle as a complete, pre-assembled module.