Toyota supports opening of first hydrogen filling station in Belgium

A full-fledged hydrogen station has arisen on Toyota-owned land leased to Air Liquide. This station has

been designed and built by Air Liquide and will not only serve fuel cell cars such as the Toyota Mirai, but

also trucks and buses. Just like at the groundbreaking ceremony, Annemie Turtelboom, Vice-Minister-

President of the Flemish Government, Flemish Minister for Budget, Finance and Energy was present on

April 22 to officially open the very first of 20 planned hydrogen stations in Flanders.

Partners in this project originate from both the private and public sector. Air Liquide will operate this

station on land provided by Toyota Motor Europe. The building is part of the SWARM-project (Small 4-

Wheel fuel cell passenger vehicle Applications in Regional and Municipal transport) which aims to supply

90 hydrogen-powered city cars to Europe, in regions such as the Brussels region and the Wer-Ems region

in Germany. And finally FCH-JU, a public/private partnership aiming to support the development of

applications involving hydrogen energy, has been contributing financially to the station.

The official opening of this hydrogen station in Zaventem, in the Brussels region, paves the way for the

start of sales of the Toyota Mirai in Belgium. Belgium is the 4th European country to start selling the

hydrogen fuel cell car following the UK, Germany and Denmark. Later this year three more countries are

scheduled to introduce the Mirai: Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.

The opening of Belgium’s very 1st hydrogen refueling station coincides with the world-wide celebration

of Earth Day – the largest and the most recognizable event in the environmental movement.

NGS INDIA