ITM Power opens first public hydrogen refuelling station in Teddington

The first public access hydrogen refuelling station has been opened in Teddington

Hydrogen fuel cell company ITM Power has officially launched its first public access hydrogen refuelling station in London at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington. The station was opened to the public by Andrew Jones MP, transport minister at the Department for Transport, and was supported by Hyundai, Toyota, Honda and Renault partner Symbio FCell.

The station is the first of three UK stations to be deployed as part of the pan-European HyFive project, which was funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) and the UK Government Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

Jones, who announced a £2 million government fund to support the roll-out of hydrogen vehicles in public and private sector fleets, said: “We are committed to making all cars and vans zero-emission by 2050, and hydrogen vehicles have a huge role to play in delivering cleaner, greener journeys. The new refuelling station at Teddington is just one of 12 stations opening up this year, backed by £5 million of government funding, that will make it easier for more people to switch to this exciting new technology.” 

Zero-emission hydrogen vehicles are cleaner and greener than standard vehicles, and emit no CO2 or other harmful pollutants, and the only by-product is pure water vapour. They also offer a driving range of more than 300 miles, and can be refuelled in 5 minutes using a hydrogen gas pump similar to petrol pumps.

The new fund comes after the government committed £5 million in 2014 through the Hydrogen for Transport Advancement Programme for 12 hydrogen refuelling stations. 

All 12 stations are expected to be open by the end of the year, which is a significant step towards a national network.