On 1 December, Coventry University unveiled its award-winning Series 100 hydrogen fuelling station from leading provider Air Products.

The station will be used predominantly to fuel a fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles which are built in Coventry by the University’s own spin-off company, Microcab. As part of a wider government funded piece of research, local people will be able to apply to trial the vehicles on the UK’s roads. The government’s Technology Strategy Board and Advantage West Midlands funded CABLED project – Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators – will see 110 low carbon vehicles operating between locations.

The opening of the station completes the next stage in the creation of a Hydrogen Ring of fuelling facilities in the Midlands that form the heart of planned UK hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.

Ian Williamson, European Hydrogen and Bio Energy Director at Air Products and President of the European Hydrogen Association explains: “The new facility at Coventry University strategically links three cities in the Midlands with hydrogen fuelling stations and will prove to be a vital step towards the creation of a low carbon hydrogen transport infrastructure for the UK.

“For members of the public to be able to trial hydrogen cars for first time on the Midlands’ roads is a hugely exciting development,” Ian Williamson adds.  “It demonstrates that this low carbon technology is available today and with the right fuelling infrastructure, can be used across the country.”

John Latham, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Development at Coventry University said: “Coventry University’s new hydrogen fuelling station and our ongoing investment and research into low emissions related automotive technologies underlines our commitment to providing state-of-the-art expertise to help grow Britain’s low carbon economy.”

Welcoming the announcement, Jim Cunningham, MP for Coventry South said: “This is good news for Coventry University and is yet another example of their commitment to research and development.  This partnership is very exciting. The West Midlands is known throughout the country for its innovation and high skill level.  We need to ensure that we remain at the forefront of research and development by encouraging the development of low carbon infrastructure.”

“The development of the low carbon economy in the West Midlands will also help create new jobs and develop new manufacturing technologies.  This is crucial to helping businesses and families recover from the recession.”

Source: airproducts.com