Hydrogen, electricity, and gasoline station opening soon in Quebec City
Quebec’s first public hydrogen fueling station will open in a few short weeks.
Located on Boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel in Quebec City, just west of Autoroute Henri-IV, the Harnois Énergies multi-fueling station will also sell gasoline and offer charging stations for electric vehicles.
Fifty hydrogen-powered cars will soon hit the road
The hydrogen fueling station, designed by Hydrogenics, will be just a novelty for the general public, at least for the time being. But it’s also the missing link that will get the Government of Quebec’s 50 Toyota Mirais up and running to test the viability of hydrogen as an energy source in Quebec.
Three-quarters of the start-up funding for the hydrogen portion of the fueling station was provided by the provincial and federal governments: $2.9 million from Transition énergétique Québec (TEQ) and $1 million from Natural Resources Canada. Toyota Canada is also a partner in the project.
A similar facility is in the works for the Montreal area, pending approval from TEQ. This time, Honda Canada will be an investment partner. It makes a hydrogen version of the Clarity sedan, which is available in California.
Hydrogen produced in Quebec City
The hydrogen sold in Quebec City will be produced onsite using an electrolyser. According to figures obtained by Le Soleil at the Montreal International Auto Show, 10 L of water and 55 kWh of electricity will produce 1 kg of hydrogen, enough to drive 100 km, at a cost of about $10.
Hydrogen: A promising solution?
At current gas prices, the cost is very similar to the fuel consumption of a conventional compact SUV over the same distance. Some might ask where the advantage of hydrogen lies for the consumer, especially when a 100% electric vehicle (EV) is at least four times cheaper to run then a combustion model.
It’s a legitimate question, especially since hydroelectricity is abundant in Quebec. CAA-Quebec believes that the exploratory phase, soon to begin in Quebec City, is still very significant. Hydrogen may not become Quebecers’ energy source of choice for personal travel, but it could be part of the alternative to gasoline for heavy transport or long-distance travel.
Filling up with hydrogen takes about the same amount of time as filling up with gas—an undeniable advantage. It also requires much less storage space than “pure” electricity, at least with current battery technology.