Ford, BP Cut Ribbon on Hydrogen Station in Michigan

Ford Motor Co., oil refiner BP plc and the city of Taylor, MI, open a new hydrogen fueling station that will be used as part of a 4-car fleet program to test fuel cells.

Ford will provide the city with four fuel cell-powered Focus small cars to be used as official government vehicles. The four Focuses are part of a larger 30-car fuel-cell fleet Ford has been testing in seven cities worldwide. Overall, Ford says the fleet has piled up more than 300,000 miles (482,000 km).

Focus refuels at new hydrogen pump in Michigan.

Ford also says it will begin deliveries of the first hydrogen-powered buses in the U.S. later this year.

The opening of the new fuel station in Taylor “represents a step forward for hydrogen as a motor fuel,” says Gerhard Schmidt, vice president-research & advanced engineering for Ford.

“BP is committed to developing cleaner fuels” says Maria Curry-Nkansah, BP’s hydrogen business development manager. “With this station, we will continue our work to gain real-world experience in hydrogen fueling infrastructure and help build public awareness of this developing technology.

BP says it currently produces 5,000 tons (4,536 t) of hydrogen per day.

“This program is an example of how government, energy companies and the auto industry are working collaboratively to develop alternative fuels.”