BMW, Total Partner on Dual-Technology Hydrogen Station in Germany

Fuel giant Total SA and BMW AG have opened a new hydrogen fuel station in Munich, Germany, they say is the first in the world to offer two different dispensing technologies. The station is part of Europe's HyFIVE program to build a refueling infrastructure for hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles.

In addition to the industry-standard 10,000-psi CGH₂ hydrogen storage systems, the Munich station also has cryo-compressed hydrogen (CCH₂) tanks. BMW is leading the development of the CCH₂ technology, which can increase on-board hydrogen storage capacity by as much 50%. This would enable future fuel cell vehicles to travel more than 300 miles between fill-ups, according to BMW.

Pioneered by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, CCH₂ stores hydrogen (in either liquid or cold compressed forms) at cryogenic temperatures within a pressure-capable vessel. Traditional cryogenic systems store hydrogen at lower pressures.

Earlier this month BMW showed two hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator vehicles, including a 5 Series based model that uses both CGH₂ and CCH₂ storage technologies. The company's i8-based prototype fuel cell vehicle has a CGH₂ tank.

The Munich station will enable both technologies to be tested and compared against each other in real world environments, BMW says. The company, which is a member of the EU's Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking initiative, also is working with Total Germany and Linde Group on various hydrogen technology and refueling processes.