Saudi Aramco and Air Products to Build Saudi Arabia's First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Fueling Station
Hydrogen Fueling Station, to be located at Air Products' new Technology Center in the Dhahran Techno Valley Science Park, represents a first step in demonstrating oil-based hydrogen-powered systems within The Kingdom
DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Aramco and Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced the signing of an agreement to jointly-build the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fueling station in Saudi Arabia. The collaboration between the two companies will combine Air Products' technological know-how and experience in the field of hydrogen with Saudi Aramco's industrial experience, facilities and R&D capabilities. Saudi Aramco and Air Products will establish a pilot fleet of fuel cell vehicles for which high-purity compressed hydrogen will be dispensed at the new fueling station.
Air Products' proprietary SmartFuel® hydrogen fueling technology will be incorporated into the new station to supply the vehicles with compressed hydrogen. The collected data during this pilot phase of the project will provide valuable information for the assessment of future applications of this emerging transport technology in the local environment. The hydrogen refueling station, the first in the Kingdom, is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2019.
"Hydrogen fuel cells offer an effective means for the electrification of transport while maintaining easy, five minute refueling and long driving ranges," said Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, Chief Technology Officer of Saudi Aramco. "The use of hydrogen derived from oil or gas to power fuel cell electric vehicles represents an exciting opportunity to expand the use of oil in clean transport," he added.
"We are honored to work on another venture with Saudi Aramco to establish and develop a sustainable hydrocarbon-based hydrogen supply system for pilot demonstration of a fuel cell vehicle fleet in Saudi Arabia," said Dr. Samir Serhan, Executive Vice President at Air Products. He added: "It further illustrates our commitment to the Kingdom's 2030 vision."
The hydrogen refueling station will be located within the grounds of Air Products' world-class Technology Center in the Dhahran Techno Valley Science Park.
Toyota Motor Corporation will supply Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Vehicles for testing in this pilot project. Toyota has been investing in hydrogen for over 20 years and in 2014 introduced the Mirai, its first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The Mirai is a zero-emission vehicle which runs on compressed hydrogen gas and only emits water. The car is powered through a fuel cell which creates electricity by combining oxygen from air with hydrogen from the fuel tank. Toyota has long maintained that hydrogen fuel cell technology can offer a sustainable zero emission solution across a broad spectrum of vehicle types.
About Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco is a world-leading integrated energy and chemicals company. We are driven by our core belief that energy is opportunity. From producing approximately one of every eight barrels of the world's crude oil supply to developing new energy technologies, our global team is dedicated to creating positive impact in all that we do. We focus on making our resources more sustainable and more useful, promoting long-term economic growth and prosperity around the world.www.saudiaramco.com
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 75 years. The company provides industrial gases and related equipment to dozens of industries, including refining, chemical, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the world's leading supplier of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment.
The Company had fiscal 2018 sales of $8.9 billion from operations in 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of about $35 billion. Approximately 16,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from diverse backgrounds are driven by Air Products' higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and address the challenges facing customers, communities, and the world. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.
NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including risk factors described in the company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.
SOURCE Air Products
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