Hydrogenics Unveils Toronto's First Hydrogen Refueling Station

Hydrogenics Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen and fuel cell systems, recently unveiled the first of four Hydrogenics' projects to be part of Toronto's Hydrogen Village.

The unveiling of the Company's HyLYZER(TM) hydrogen refueler took place at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) as part of the CNE's Green Day event.

Hydrogenics also announced it has received a CDN $4.25 million strategic investment from the Government of Canada's Hydrogen Early Adopters (h2EA) program that will help in establishing the four unique projects in which Hydrogenics will lead a consortium of partners. The total value of the projects is over CDN $10 million.

"We are pleased to be at the core of the larger Hydrogen Village initiative and to have this show of government support," said Pierre Rivard, President and CEO of Hydrogenics. "These projects and the technology portfolio that they encompass are at the heart of what Hydrogenics does. It will allow us to showcase our technologies in our home town and demonstrate the potential for early market adoption in several key industries like fleet transportation, light mobility transportation and back-up power generation."

Hydrogenics' HyLYZER(TM) refueler at Exhibition Place is Toronto's first public hydrogen refueling station. During the CNE the refueler will use electricity generated by the Wind Turbine, sited at Exhibition Place, to produce clean hydrogen. The hydrogen will be used to refuel a range of fuel cell powered demonstration vehicles at the event, all powered by Hydrogenics' fuel cell power module technology. The vehicles on site include a forklift, a John Deere commercial work vehicle, and a GEM (TM) 'neighborhood' vehicle.

As part of Toronto's Hydrogen Village it is hoped that the initiatives this investment supports (described below) will act as catalysts for more development in Toronto's Hydrogen infrastructure. Projects over the next two years include:

-- Fuel Cell Powered Utility Work Vehicles

Four fuel cell powered utility work vehicles at the Exhibition will be showcased in two phases (2004 and 2005). Throughout this demonstration phase these vehicles will perform regular duties at Exhibition Place and other designated locations. The project will also demonstrate critical on and off-board diagnostics and monitoring equipment. Participants in this demonstration include John Deere ePower Technologies, Exhibition Place and Greenlight Power Technologies (a division of Hydrogenics).

-- HyLYZER Refueling Station

Fuelled by wind energy from the wind turbine located at Toronto's Exhibition Place, the HyLYZER refueling station will be capable of producing approximately 65 kg of hydrogen per day, an amount sufficient to fuel up to 20 vehicles per day. In this project the hydrogen produced will be used to fuel the hydrogen powered John Deere vehicles mentioned above, as well as other vehicles that are introduced in the development of the Hydrogen Village. Participants in this project include Exhibition Place, the City of Toronto, and Toronto Renewable Energy Corporation.

-- Back-up Power Generator

A hydrogen fuel cell power module will be used for a backup power generation solution at a cell tower site. Partners in this project include Bell Canada and Emerson Network Power Group, formerly known as Marconi Communications.

-- Hybrid Fuel Cell / Battery Delivery Vehicle

This project will demonstrate a hybrid fuel cell delivery vehicle in a commercial fleet application. Hydrogenics' HyPM(TM) power module technology will be integrated with batteries to offer an efficient zero-emission alternative to Purolator Courier Ltd's diesel/electric powered fleet vehicles as that company undertakes its 'Greening the Fleet' program. The project also includes the commissioning of a HyLYZER(TM) Refueler providing on-site hydrogen production, storage and dispensing capabilities. Partnerships in this project include Purolator and Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance.