LONDON - Energy and motor companies are to set up a dedicated hydrogen filling station and fuel-cell vehicle test centre in California next year, marking a major step in progress to fuel-cell based transport, Shell International said.
A company statement said the facilities would be sited in Sacramento by the middle of the year at the headquarters of the California Fuel Cell Partnership - a group including the state government, energy firms and vehicle manufacturers.
"Refuelling is one of the key issues for enabling fuel-cell vehicles to reach the mass market," said Don Huberts, chief executive of Shell Hydrogen, which will jointly fund the fuelling facility, along with Arco (Atlantic Richfield Co) and Texaco Inc .
The statement did not say how much the project would cost but added that the station will dispense liquid and compressed hydrogen fuel for 16 fuel-cell powered passenger vehicles.
Autmobile companies involved in the venture include DaimlerChrysler AG , Ford Motor Co , Honda Motor Co Ltd and Volkswagen AG and each will have garage bays at the centre for servicing, repairs and diagnostics.
Further details of the operation were available on the World Wide Web, at: www.drivingthefuture.org