Hydrogenics Corporation : New Hydrogen Fueling Station and Bus Launched in The Netherlands with Hydrogenics Technology

Dec 04, 2013
New Hydrogen Fueling Station and Bus Launched in The Netherlands with Hydrogenics Technology

Hydrogenics is pleased to announce the opening of a hydrogen fueling station and the launch of a new hydrogen bus concept - both with Hydrogenics technology, on November 29th 2013 in Helmond, The Netherlands.

The new station, part of the AutomotiveCampusNL in Helmond, is owned by WaterstofNet with support from the European Interreg IV Flanders-Netherlands program. The hydrogen fueling station, built by Ballast Nedham, features a Hydrogenics HySTAT™ electrolysis system designed and built by Hydrogenics Belgium-based On-Site Generation division. The station consists of a 20 ft containerized water electrolyzer that includes a water treatment system, gas purification, cooling system and a 350 bar dispenser to supply up to 65 kg of clean hydrogen fuel per day.  The station will be used to fuel new prototypes of hydrogen buses and a small fleet of hydrogen powered garbage trucks. Within the next few months the station will be expanded to include a 700 bar dispenser to make it suitable for passenger cars.

On the day of the opening, an exciting new concept for electrified bus platforms was demonstrated by VDL Bus & Coach, a major Dutch bus manufacturer. This new VDL Bus & Coach concept incorporates an energy power plant where the only interface to the vehicle is a 600 VDC cable connector and a vehicle communication port. 

Hydrogenics Power Systems division designed and supplied the energy power plant which included a HyPM™ HD90 fuel cell power module. The unit can be deployed in standard, articulated and double-articulated buses. Hydrogenics HyPM™ HD product was a perfect fit in meeting VDL's key requirements.  HyPM™ HD products make integration into existing electric drive platforms simple and straightforward. The fuel cell power system has numerous comparative technical advantages like industry leading power density, unlimited start and stops, complete fully integrated controls and simple integration interfaces.  Freeze-start capability comes with all HyPM™ HD products and the fuel cell's capability to not require humidified air and to operate at low pressure eliminates expensive and prone-to-failure components.  Increasing the reliability of zero-emission transport while lowering the cost for integrators and OEMs is a key focus at Hydrogenics.

"At Hydrogenics we are pleased to participate with VDL Bus & Coach and Ballast Nedham to build this project together.  Hydrogenics has the most cost competitive fuel cell power systems for medium and heavy duty commercial vehicles with proven and unsurpassed durability and simple integration.  Our electrolysis technology has been chosen as the on-site generator of hydrogen for fueling stations around the globe", Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics' CEO said, "We congratulate the WaterstofNET organization on the opening of this important station and their support for the launch of these vehicles.  At Hydrogenics we continue to serve leading customers by helping them accelerate a shift to cleaner and more sustainable urban transport."