Honda opens UK’s first hydrogen fuelling station
1 min read
The UK's first open access hydrogen vehicle refuelling station (pictured) has been officially opened at Honda's manufacturing facility in Swindon.
Built and operated by industrial gases company BOC, the venture is the result of a partnership between Honda, BOC and economic development company Forward Swindon.
The new station is open to anyone developing or using hydrogen-powered vehicles. It can fill vehicles at both 350 bar and 700 bar, the two standard filling pressures adopted by the world's major vehicle manufacturers.
Based on the grounds of Honda of the UK manufacturing in Swindon, the station aims to encourage the development of both hydrogen-powered vehicles – such as the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car – and the refuelling infrastructure to support them.
Speaking at the opening of the facility, Richard Kemp-Harper, Lead Technologist for Transport and Energy at the Technology Strategy Board, said the new refuelling station gave a real glimpse of the role hydrogen can play in practice.
BOC's Mike Huggon believed government commitment was needed to make the idea work across the country as a whole.
