Shell and Toyota will develop the first hydrogen refuelling station for trucks

The two companies are collaborating on the launch of the first truck service station where hydrogen can be refuelled as a fuel. It will be located near the Port of Long Beach (California, USA), and with it the California Energy Commission (CEC) aims to help develop electrical and hydrogen infrastructure at ports, warehouse areas and distribution centres in that US state.

The Port of Long Beach, one of the world’s major transport hubs, will host this new service station thanks both to the collaboration of Shell and Toyota and to the financial support provided by the CEC, which will subsidise with €6.5 million the launch of this infrastructure, through which it hopes to encourage the use of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks around Long Beach.

“Hydrogen offers very promising prospects for removing carbon from transport, particularly the heavy transport sector, where there are not many viable alternatives to conventional fuels,” said Oliber Bishop, Shell’s Hydrogen Managing Director. Both companies “will combine their expertise to provide an effective alternative fuel to the transport sector in California,” Bishop stated.

If the aid promised by the CEC is finally confirmed, Shell will build and operate the hydrogen station, which will be located in the Logistics Services area that Toyota has installed at the Port of Long Beach. Its installation will make possible the brand’s “Project Portal”, where Toyota aims to test its concept of developing fuel cell trucks and fleets for public heavy-duty transport.

“We greatly value the CEC’s recognition of the importance of this groundbreaking project at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,” says Craig Scott, Advanced Technology Vehicles Director at Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “Toyota consistently demonstrates that the fuel cell is one of the most innovative and sustainable technologies for vehicle electrification, both for light and heavy-duty vehicles. This joint initiative with Shell reaffirms the commitment of both companies to hydrogen as a viable transport fuel and complements our hydrogen station project in northern California.”

Toyota will produce the hydrogen to supply the trucks at the Long Beach hydrogen station from 100 per cent renewable biogas for Shell to distribute.