Shell and GM Doing an Industry First

Royal Dutch-Shell has begun constructing its first ever US hydrogen filling station on the outskirts of Washington, DC, last month, the supermajor's Shell Hydrogen division announced this week.

The new facility -- which is being built at an existing Shell service station on Benning Roadin the northeast of the city -- will offer both regular gasoline and hydrogen when it opens later this year. Liquid and gaseous hydrogen fuel will be used to power a fleet of six General Motors fuel cell vehicles that the two companies hope to develop on a commercial scale.

Shell says GM will be offering "ride and drive" demonstrations to community leaders and local and federal officials in an attempt to illustrate the advantages of hydrogen as a clean, safe and abundant transport fuel that could help the US reduce its dependence on foreign oil. With no tailpipe emissions other than heat and water, hydrogen could also help the US improve local air quality.

In a statement, Shell said the Washington project meant that it was the only oil company with fuel cell demonstration projects in each of the major hydrogen markets: Japan, North America and Europe. Shell already operates hydrogen filling stations in Tokyo, Amsterdam, Luxembourg and Reykjavik.