Linde hydrogen fueling station now operational in San Juan Capistrano

MURRAY HILL, N.J. and NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Linde North America, Inc. today announced that its second retail hydrogen fueling station for fuel cell automobiles in California is now operational. Coinciding with National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, the new station opened for business at the San Juan Capistrano Gas and Auto Services located on Junipero Serra Road in San Juan Capistrano.

"This newly operational fueling station follows the one we opened at the Ramos Oil Company station in West Sacramento earlier this year," said Mike Beckman,vice president of Hydrogen Fueling-Linde North America, Inc. "The San Juan Capistrano station is our first station in Southern California. We expect to open another five stations in California during the next year, starting in the San Francisco Bay Area."

Beckman points out, "Our timing on achieving operational status at the San Juan Capistrano station is really no coincidence. We wanted to emphasize the significance of the U.S. Senate resolution proclaiming October 8, 2015 as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day. The resolution acknowledges the excellent progress hydrogen fuel cells have made to 'address our most pressing energy, environmental, and economic issues.'"

"The California Energy Commission provided support for this project through its Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program. Linde's San Juan Capistrano station is part of a growing network of hydrogen refueling stations that will allow Californians with fuel-cell electric vehicles to travel the State," said Commissioner Janea A. Scott. "Making the transition to vehicles with no tailpipe pollution, like hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles, is an important part of California's strategy to address climate change and to ensure our communities have clean, healthy air."

Along with funding from the California Energy Commission, Linde also received support from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), as supporting zero-emission vehicles helps to achieve the region's goals of reducing harmful emissions. "Increasing the use of zero- and near-zero emission vehicles, including hydrogen-fueled models, is vital to achieving clean air in Southern California," said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the SCAQMD.  "This new station provides easy and convenient hydrogen fueling, which will help boost consumer confidence in cleaner, pollution-free vehicles."

At the heart of the hydrogen fueling system is the Linde IC 90 ionic compressor -- the next generation of hydrogen compression technology which enables higher throughput and enhanced back to back fueling. "With this compressor, Linde has made a valuable contribution to the ongoing enhancement of today's hydrogen fueling infrastructure," Nitin Natesan Business Development manager - Hydrogen Fueling.

For more information on Linde's IC 90 ionic compressor see: http://www.lindeus.com/en/innovations/hydrogen_energy/fuelling_technologies/ionic_compressor.html.

"We are really pleased that Linde brought this exciting technology to us and very excited to help create the infrastructure necessary to prove that hydrogen has a place in the transportation fuel mix," said John Adam, owner of the San Juan Capistrano service station. "We have been serving this market since 1987 and this is one of the most exciting projects we've been involved in."

It is anticipated that by the end of 2015, there will be a network of approximately 30 hydrogen fueling stations operating throughout California, with more coming the following year, providing a significant infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell cars. Conservative industry estimates call for over 34,000 hydrogen powered cars to be on the road in California by 2021, with a significant growth curve from there.

Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group. In the 2014 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of  USD 17.9 bn (EUR 17.047 bn), making it the largest gases and engineering company in the world with approximately 65,500 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com

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SOURCE Linde North America, Inc.