London's hydrogen fuel infrastructure is beginning to take form

First hydrogen station in London is set to open soon

London's first public hydrogen fuel station is set to launch in the coming days. The new fueling station in located at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington and represents one of the first steps in London's efforts to bolster its nascent hydrogen fuel infrastructure. ITM Power, a leading developer of fuel cell technology, has told investors that the new fueling station is likely to open on May 10. The fuel cell developer has had a role to play in the development of the new fueling station.

Several companies come together to build new hydrogen stations in the UK

The hydrogen fuel station is being launched in collaboration with Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and other companies that are interested in seeing a hydrogen fuel infrastructure take form. ITM Power has been working with Linde, one of the largest producers of chemical gases, to test the facility over the past few weeks. The collaboration is likely to continue well into the future, as both companies have invested heavily in the hydrogen space and intend to aid in the development of a comprehensive hydrogen fuel infrastructure.

Demand for hydrogen fuel is on the rise

Fuel cell vehicles have been growing in popularity, but their adoption has been relatively slow. This is because of the lacking hydrogen infrastructure that exists in many parts of the world. Vehicles equipped with fuel cells rely on hydrogen to operate effectively. Without access to hydrogen, consumers have little interest in fuel cell vehicles and do not wish to purchase such vehicles when other solutions with greater infrastructure support are available to them.

Fuel cell vehicles may have a leg up over battery electrics

When compared to conventional battery electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles are considered more efficient. A typical fuel cell vehicle, such as those coming from Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda, are capable of traveling for 300 miles or more on a single tank of hydrogen. Moreover, these vehicles can be refueled in a matter of minutes. By comparison, battery electrics take several hours to charge fully and many have a very limited range, making them less viable for long distance travel.