Car to run on Coregas hydrogen

Australian gases company Coregas has announced it is set to supply gas for Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered concept car, the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. Hyundai is currently installing a hydrogen car refuelling station at its headquarters in Macquarie Park, NSW, ready to commence operations early next year.

Coregas will supply high-purity compressed hydrogen to the refuelling station. It worked closely with Air Products, an international gases company and supplier of the refuelling station, to provide a complete refuelling solution for Hyundai.

When mixed with air, hydrogen burns ‘clean’ leaving only water, which reportedly reduces the environmental impact of the vehicle. Longer term plans include production of hydrogen on-site using solar energy and electrolysers, meaning the scheme will eventually be entirely green, emitting no harmful by-products and not burning fossil fuels.

While countries in Europe and America already have hydrogen-powered cars and buses, and have begun installing networks of refuelling stations along ‘hydrogen highways’, Hyundai’s concept car is claimed to be the first vehicle of its kind to be permanently imported into Australia. The company hopes this will be a first step towards a wider hydrogen network in this country.

Coregas is part of the Wesfarmers Industrial & Safety division.