Japanese car giant Toyota and South Korean automaker Hyundai have put aside their rivalries to sign a deal with two of Australia’s largest energy companies to expand the nation’s hydrogen refuelling network.

The two car companies have formed an agreement with Ampol and Pacific Energy to find viable ways to ramp-up the number of hydrogen stations  which, for now, is restricted to just half-a-dozen outlets for the entire country – including one each at Toyota and Hyundai head offices, one in Canberra, and one in Brisbane.

Toyota and Hyundai each have about 50 hydrogen cars on Australian roads as part of separate fleet trials.

The “memorandum of understanding” between the two car giants and the two energy giants has been described has a handshake deal in writing – because, for now, there is no additional financial investment from any of the parties involved.

Hydrogen cars are available for sale in limited numbers in Europe, the US and Japan.

However, in a case of “which came first, the chicken or the egg?”, the vehicles are only available as part of fleet trials in Australia because of the extremely limited refuelling points. The energy providers are yet to invest in hydrogen refuelling stations because there are fewer than 100 cars nationally.

The new agreement aims to address this road block, although the parties involved are yet to indicate how the ramp-up will occur – and over what period of time.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Australia, Ampol and leading hydrogen technologies specialist Pacific Energy to help develop hydrogen refuelling infrastructure,” Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss, said in a media statement.

“This partnership agreement brings together four like-minded companies that are all leading proponents of Australia’s growing hydrogen economy.

“Both Toyota and Hyundai have fuel-cell electric vehicles in customer programs while Ampol and Pacific Energy are heavily invested in growing sustainable energy development and distribution.

“This (agreement) is a vital development because hydrogen ecosystems must involve sectors uniting so they can bring together their skills, technologies and applications.

“It’s an agreement that demonstrates a commitment to work together on further opportunities to explore and grow this vital technology…  which will play a role in the transition to more renewable energy sources (for motor vehicles).

“This is yet another important chapter in our multi-pathway approach to (reducing vehicle emissions).”

In an interview with media, Mr Hanley said: “The cars are here. We just need to get an infrastructure to support them. But … in fairness to energy companies, they need a commitment to vehicles coming to this country to sustain their investment.”

Mr Hanley said the agreement is “hopefully a stepping stone” to making hydrogen vehicles a viable option for people who need to travel greater distances than drivers of electric cars.

“Hydrogen is an outstandingly good fuel source and solution (to reductions in vehicle emissions),” said Mr Hanley.

“Hydrogen take about as long to refuel as it does to refuel a petrol car … about five minutes. So once we can establish an infrastructure, I think it’s got an incredibly good future.”

When asked if customers have reservations about the safety of hydrogen cars, Mr Hanley said: “The short answer is ‘no’. The hydrogen fuel-cell is a safe car. Our job, like any technology we bring to market, is to dispel the myths. And one of those myths will be around the safety of hydrogen (and reassure customers) that it is safe.”

https://www.drive.com.au/news/toyota-hyundai-ampol-pacific-energy-hydrogen/