(Archived) BP, Praxair and Governor Schwarzenegger Dedicate First Retail-Designed Hydrogen Fueling Station for California at LAX

LOS ANGELES, Calif., October 22, 2004 –– United by a vision to support California’s commitment to cleaner energy, BP, Praxair and key stakeholders were joined by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today for the dedication of the state’s first retail-designed hydrogen fueling station at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

"The opening of this hydrogen demonstration site is an important step to meeting the future energy needs of California and recognizes the increasing energy needs of a growing and developing State economy,” said Ross Pillari, president, BP America. “This project is an important step in developing the future options and what we learn from this location will form the basis for future success.”

“Hydrogen presents a golden opportunity for the Golden State,” said Scott Kaltrider, Praxair vice president, North American Industrial Gases. “Praxair is pleased to deliver the cutting-edge technology that allows hydrogen to be produced, stored, and dispensed at a retail-designed hydrogen fueling station.”

“For the last decade, the City of Los Angeles has been proud to embrace our responsibility to the environment by adopting clean-fuel technologies throughout our City departments. Today we advance our commitment to improving air quality with the opening of this new compressed-hydrogen fueling station,” said Mayor Jim Hahn.

The BP/Praxair hydrogen fueling station is a joint project among BP, Praxair, Los Angeles World Airport, South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Energy Commission and the United States Department of Energy, all of which helped fund the nearly $2 million construction cost.

The BP/Praxair fueling station will be used to fuel hydrogen-powered demonstration cars supplied by DaimlerChrysler. The 10,500 square-foot hydrogen facility incorporates a retail-style design, which will pave the way for future retail outlets.

At the BP/Praxair station, hydrogen is produced on-site by applying electricity to water, which separates hydrogen molecules from oxygen molecules. The oxygen molecules are vented to the atmosphere and the hydrogen gas is compressed and stored. Stuart Energy was chosen by Praxair to supply the hydrogen-generation module which produces 24 kilograms per day of pure hydrogen fuel.

The new hydrogen station advances Governor Schwarzenegger's California Hydrogen Highway Network, which is an initiative to support and catalyze a rapid transition to a clean, hydrogen transportation economy in California.

For more information, visit www.praxair.com, www.bp.com/hydrogen, or www.lawa.org.