16.11.2004
GM's HydroGen3 participates in hydrogen demonstration project in Germany

Last week, the world's largest hydrogen filling station opened in the German capital of Berlin. One of the aims of the project is to test the fuel supply logistics for a fleet of 16 hydrogen-powered vehicles – including a HydroGen3 by GM/Opel – under practical conditions. For conventional customers, the public service station on Berlin's Messedamm also offers gasoline and diesel.

The filling station originated on the initiative of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), a consortium founded in July 2002 by the corporate partners, Aral, BMW, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM/Opel, Hydro, Linde and Vattenfall Europe. Together with the German government, CEP has set itself the goal to develop hydrogen as a viable fuel and to demonstrate its reliability in everyday operation. CEP and the hydrogen filling station are supported by the German Government as part of the national sustainability strategy.

For the Berlin project, which is initially set to run until 2007, GM will use a HydroGen3 powered by liquid hydrogen. The heart of the HydroGen3 – the fuel cell stack – fits, under the front hood together with the electric motor and ancillary units. As a result, the Opel Zafira-based vehicle can accommodate five passengers plus baggage.

In addition, GM and its partner Shell Hydrogen opened another hydrogen filling station in Washington D.C. last week. It is the first combined hydrogen and gasoline filling station in North America. Since November 10, the six HydroGen3 vehicles stationed in the US capital have been filled up under everyday conditions. The vehicles are used for US mail courier services in Washington city traffic.