Air Products' Hydrogen Fueling Technology Now in Operation in Washington, D.C. at Shell Retail Vehicle Filling Station

Site is North America's First Integrated Hydrogen and Gasoline Station

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 10 -- Air Products' hydrogen fueling technology was an integral part of an historic event today as Shell Hydrogen officially opened North America's first-ever hydrogen filling station at an existing retail gasoline site in Washington, D.C. The Benning Road demonstration project makes Shell the first energy company in North America to provide the environmentally friendly fuel at a consumer retail site, alongside conventional fuels. Initially, it will provide fuel for six GM Hydrogen 3 fuel cell vehicles participating in this Shell-General Motors partnership demonstration project.

"This is a milestone demonstration project, and Air Products is very proud to be the hydrogen fueling equipment and technology supplier to Shell for North America's first integrated hydrogen and gasoline station," said Tama Copeman, director of Future Energy Solutions at Air Products. "Shell and General Motors are to be commended for their approach to this project, which included establishing an educational visitor's center. Through all of these efforts, hydrogen as an energy-carrier will gain a greater public understanding."

Shell Hydrogen and General Motors are combining resources to help make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles a commercially viable reality. The Washington, D.C. initiative represents an important step forward in the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. "Today marks the next major step in Shell Hydrogen's effort to make a substantial advance and move research further into reality," said Jeremy Bentham, chief executive officer of Shell Hydrogen. "The Benning Road station in Washington, D.C. represents a real-world urban- driving scenario to demonstrate hydrogen cars and refueling."

Air Products' Series 200 fueling technology, a totally integrated vehicle fueling system, will provide the storage and dispensing of hydrogen to the vehicles. This Air Products fueling technology is designed to meet early vehicle fleet fueling requirements by providing the customer flexibility of using hydrogen generated on-site or from a distributed hydrogen supply. The hydrogen fueling facility in Washington, D.C. has the capacity to dispense 20 kilograms of gaseous hydrogen per day and also provides a dispenser for liquid hydrogen vehicle fueling.