Air Products to Supply Technology and Hydrogen for 19 FirstElement Fuel California Fueling Stations

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD), a worldwide leader in hydrogen fueling technology, today announced it has signed an agreement to be the hydrogen fueling station and technology supplier for FirstElement Fuel, Inc.'s initial network of 19 hydrogen fueling stations to be built throughout California in 2015.  The SmartFuel^® hydrogen fueling stations will be supplied to FirstElement Fuel following the company's success in winning multiple grants through the California Energy Commission's (CEC) hydrogen fueling program. Air Products will also be the hydrogen supplier for all 19 stations, which will be open to the public at a time when several vehicle manufacturers prepare to launch fuel cell vehicles into the California market in 2015.

"This is recognition of Air Products' innovative hydrogen capabilities. Our hydrogen fueling station technology is a product that has a small footprint, can be placed on-site at existing retail gasoline fueling stations, and is also cost-effective. We are excited to be a part of the project team and to have been selected by FirstElement Fuel to supply the station infrastructure and the hydrogen fuel for this impressive effort," said Ed Kiczek, global business director – Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products.  Kiczek added that this is the second of three hydrogen station product lines to be introduced in the retail space by Air Products.

"After assessing a variety of equipment technologies and providers, we chose Air Products for their superior performance, and innovation," said Dr. Tim Brown, COO of FirstElement Fuel.  "These will be retail stations so their performance needs to be impeccable. Air Products has a proven track record in this industry from both a safety and reliability standpoint."

Beyond the coming network of 19 FirstElement Fuel stations, Air Products has nine existing SmartFuel stations in the state already fueling cars in public and private use.  It is in the process of adding nine more locations from previous CEC program fueling station awards, with those stations featuring the company's first hydrogen station product line.  In addition, Air Products operates three hydrogen-powered forklift fueling stations in the state.  When all of these stations are onstream, Air Products' hydrogen fueling technology will be in place at 40 California locations.

All 19 stations for FirstElement Fuel will be SmartFuel stations, providing hydrogen fueling at 700 bar (10,000 psi) and include Air Products' technology referenced in the SAE J2601 hydrogen fueling protocol. Air Products has available several SmartFuel station concepts incorporating modular and expandable technology and holds an entire portfolio of global patents, with additional patents pending, related to the advancements to be deployed under this program. Additionally, this novel patented supply system to cost-effectively seed early markets with fueling infrastructure in California is able to be deployed anywhere in the U.S.  

The stations will also include Air Products' advanced consumer-friendly retail hydrogen fuel dispenser.  The new Air Products offering, developed by the company in conjunction with Bennett Pump Co., is the market's first fully-integrated retail hydrogen dispenser, mirrors traditional consumer gasoline fueling and payment practices, and is readily available to meet consumer expectations of refilling hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles in a safe, fast, reliable, and familiar manner. Details on Air Products' hydrogen fueling station technologies can be viewed at www.airproducts.com/h2energy.

Air Products, the leading global supplier of hydrogen to refineries to assist in producing cleaner burning transportation fuels, has vast experience in the hydrogen fueling industry. Use of the company's fueling technology is increasing and is already over 1,000,000 hydrogen fills per year. The company has been involved in over 170 hydrogen fueling projects in the United States and 20 countries worldwide. Cars, trucks, vans, buses, scooters, forklifts, locomotives, planes, cell towers, material handling equipment, and even submarines have been fueled with trend-setting Air Products' technologies.

About Air Products 
Air Products (NYSE: APD) provides atmospheric, process and specialty gases; performance materials; equipment; and technology.  For over 70 years, the company has enabled customers to become more productive, energy efficient and sustainable.  Recognized as one of the world's most innovative companies by both Thomson Reuters and Forbes magazine, more than 21,000 employees in over 50 countries supply effective solutions to the energy, environment and emerging markets.  These include semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, coal gasification, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives.  In fiscal 2013, Air Products had sales of $10.2 billion. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About FirstElement Fuel
FirstElement Fuel Inc. is a company dedicated to providing customers access to safe, reliable, retail hydrogen fueling to enable the widespread commercial adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles.  The company was founded on the belief that fuel cell vehicles will help change the world in a positive way by combating global climate change, air pollution, and the world's overall addiction to oil.  FirstElement was recently awarded a $27.6 Million grant from the State of California to develop the first phase of the Hydrogen Network.  The company has also received financial backing from Toyota.

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, 2013.

SOURCE Air Products