New Filling Station Gives Ford Advantage in Developing Hydrogen Vehicles
16 August 1999
New Filling Station Gives Ford Advantage in Developing Hydrogen Vehicles DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 16 -- Ford Motor Company
today opened the first filling station in North America that can refuel
vehicles with either liquid or gaseous hydrogen. It is the second such
filling station in the world and bolsters Ford's commitment to clean hydrogen
vehicles.
"Ford intends to be the leader in the production of fuel cell vehicles,"
said Bill Powers, vice president of Research. "This refueling station right
on the site of our North American Research and Engineering campus gives Ford
an edge by allowing us to easily refuel and conduct tests on our vehicles and
in our labs."
The station officially opened with the refueling of Ford's P2000 HFC
(hydrogen fuel cell) sedan, which is powered by gaseous hydrogen.
The station will help Ford researchers analyze the benefits of liquid vs.
gaseous hydrogen refueling, different types of nozzles for refueling and
different pressures for optimal refueling with hydrogen.
"We have to take a serious look at the challenges facing a hydrogen
infrastructure," said Powers. "We feel having a hydrogen station at our own
facility will help us understand the risks and opportunities."
To refuel the P2000 HFC, a cable is connected to the vehicle along with
the refueling nozzle. The cable monitors onboard safety systems and the
hydrogen level in the vehicle, and opens and closes the proper valves as the
vehicle tank is being filled. Refueling takes about the same time as with a
gasoline vehicle.
The station has two liquid hydrogen and two gaseous hydrogen pumps. The
liquid tank holds 1,650 gallons of hydrogen. The gaseous hydrogen is stored
at both 750 psi (pounds per square inch) and 5,500 psi. The lower pressure
supports laboratory bench tests while the higher pressure supports vehicle
refueling, which can be done at either 3,600 or 5,000 psi.
Ford's hydrogen refueling station is next to the company's Scientific
Research Laboratory in Dearborn and supplies hydrogen fuel to a specially
equipped dynamometer lab in that building and other testing facilities in a
nearby building. While primarily used for fuel cell development, Ford also is
conducting significant research on hydrogen-powered internal combustion
engines. More than 1,300 feet of special supply pipes were laid underground
from the fueling site to the two buildings.
Ford is investing $1.5 million in the station for design, construction,
equipment rental and a five-year fuel supply. The hydrogen is supplied by Air
Products, the world's largest supplier of hydrogen and the sole supplier of
the fuel to NASA for the space shuttle and other programs. Air Products and
Hydrogen Components Inc. supply the gaseous refueling equipment, while Messer
Greisheim supplies the liquid refueling equipment.
