Air Liquide to Provide Transferable Hydrogen Fueling Systems to GM U.S. by Iver Penn

Air Liquide to Provide Transferable Hydrogen Fueling Systems to GM U.S. by Iver Penn


An auspicious alternative fuel solution for motor vehicles is yielded by using hydrogen as a transmitter of energy. Hydrogen is utilized in a fuel cell and combines with oxygen in the air to be able to produce electricity to supply power to the vehicle, with water as the only emission.

Air Liquide is manufactured to enable the hydrogen energy infrastructure. It is closely working with partners in the private and public sectors while helping to transmit hydrogen energy technologies from the planning papers to the real world. The group is actively developing the whole supply chain of the hydrogen energy. The process of developing the chain starts from producing hydrogen, to making fuel cells, then to solutions development, and then to the distribution of hydrogen to end users.

Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC has been chosen to supply five, 700-bar, transferable fast-fill hydrogen fueling systems to General Motors in the U.S. Nonetheless, GM can also opt to acquire an additional of two systems. To be operated by the end of 2007, the portable fueling systems will be built in North America with proprietary engineering designs from Air Liquide's Advanced Technologies teams.

As regards using hydrogen as energy, this is Air Liquide's second collaboration with GM. Air Liquide is also working with GM in Canada where it installed a fueling system at GM's Cold Weather Testing site in Kapuskasing, Ontario, which is intended for hydrogen vehicles.

Pierre Dufour, the Executive Vice-President of Air Liquide Group, and at the same time president and CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc., said that their agreement with General Motors is one of the ways in which Air Liquide is contributing to overture the use of hydrogen as a source of energy as well as an alternative solution to power the cars that will be launched in the future. He added that they very honored to have collaborated with GM on this project.

About Air Liquide

Air Liquide is a major partner in many international hydrogen energy projects in Europe, Japan and North America. It has gained more than 40 years of expertise in the hydrogen business as well as in line with its commitment to desirable development. Air Liquide believes that it has a responsibility as a world leader in opening up new markets as well as in introducing scientific and technological innovation in society.

Founded in 1902, Air Liquide is the leading group in industrial and medical gases and other related services. Present in 72 countries, the group offers reinvented solutions that are based on constantly enhanced technologies. In consonance with Air Liquide's commitment to sustainable development, these solutions are aimed to protect life and enable the customers to manufacture many essential everyday products.

Air Liquide has employed over 36,000 workers. It has tremendously developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders because of its trust and transparency that are guided by the principles of corporate governance. In 2006, its revenues amounted to 10,949 million euros, with sales outside France accounting for nearly 80 percent.

Listed on the Paris stock exchange, Air Liquide is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073).

About General Motors Corporation

Also known as GM or GMC, General Motors Corporation is the 2nd (after Toyota) largest car company based on sales revenue as of 2007. Maker of quality cars and their parts, GMC has around 284,000 employees all over the world.

It was founded in 1908, in Flint, Michigan and has global headquarters located at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, USA. In Zurich, Switzerland is their European headquarters. This American car maker produces its trucks and cars in 33 countries.

GM cars and trucks are sold under Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall brands.

GM Parts like GMC bumper bracket and accessories are known in the market under GM Performance Parts, GM Goodwrench and ACDelco brands through GM Service and Parts Operations that supplies GM dealerships and distributors all over the world. The United States is GM's largest national market. This is followed by China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

GM is the number 1 automaker when it comes to Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index (TQI).



About the Author
Iver Penn is a Mass Communications graduate who hails from Wyoming. She is at present an associate editor of a publishing company in Colorado.