Air Liquide Fuels Hydrogen Road Tour Vehicles in Delaware

Three hydrogen-powered automobiles from makers Honda, Hyundai and Toyota, part of the Hydrogen Road Tour, made a stop at Air Liquide’s Delaware Research and Technology Center for a hydrogen refueling. The Hydrogen Road Tour convoy is traveling from Maine to California to build awareness among elected officials and the public of the readiness of vehicle technology and of hydrogen as a safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly transportation fuel.

The Hydrogen Road Tour, a coalition of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association, hopes to build support across the country for the creation of a nationwide infrastructure to fuel hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Air Liquide is committed to enabling this hydrogen energy infrastructure by developing and commercializing related advanced technologies. Working closely with partners in the private and public sectors, the Group is actively developing the entire hydrogen energy supply chain, for the production, storage, distribution and safe handling of hydrogen and the development and manufacture of advanced fuel cells.

To support car manufacturers in the development of their hydrogen-powered vehicles, Air Liquide has developed fueling stations to fill their fuel tanks with pressurized hydrogen up to 700 bars (approximately 10,000 PSI). These stations complete the fill up in less than five minutes and as easily and safely as for a gasoline stop. Air Liquide has supplied over 30 hydrogen fueling stations throughout the world.

With over 40 years’ expertise in the hydrogen business and in line with its commitment to sustainable development, Air Liquide is a major partner in numerous international hydrogen energy projects. For example, in North America, Air Liquide is supplying five 700-bar, portable fast-fill hydrogen fueling systems to General Motors and Shell Hydrogen in California and New York. Air Liquide is also providing a fueling station for use at Albany International Airport. In Canada, Air Liquide will provide the fueling infrastructure to support the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen-powered buses, in British Columbia. In Europe, from June to September 2008, Air Liquide is supplying Nissan with the service stations and hydrogen needed to demonstrate their hydrogen-powered vehicles throughout Europe.

“As the world leader in industrial gases, Air Liquide considers it has a responsibility to open up new markets and introduce scientific and technological innovation for a sustainable future. In this light, we are very pleased to contribute to the Hydrogen Road Tour by fueling the cars at our Delaware Research and Technology Center, where we also fuel daily the University of Delaware’s hydrogen-powered bus used to shuttle students on campus,” said Mike Smith, president of Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC.

With more than 40,000 employees in 75 countries, Air Liquide is the world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies and produces air gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases…) and many other gases including hydrogen. The Group contributes to the manufacturing of many everyday products: bubbles in sparkling beverages, protective atmosphere for packed foods, oxygen for hospitals and homecare patients, ultra-pure gases for the semiconductor industry, hydrogen to desulfurize fuels…

Air Liquide is committed to sustainable development and helps to protect life. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on trust and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2007 totaled 11,801 million euros, with sales outside France accounting for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073).
Website: www.airliquide.com