Norway has led the way in developing a viable network for hydrogen cars, by not only hosting the debut of a hydrogen-powered vehicle, but also a hydrogen refuelling station.

The Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE will make its on-road debut outside Japan at the opening of Norway's first hydrogen filling station near Stavanger on August 22nd.

Brage Johansen, manager of the hydrogen group at Statoil, commented: "The hydrogen station at Stavanger is the first step of a long and exciting journey for hydrogen and we are very proud to have Mazda present at the opening.

"Hydrogen has always suffered from the classic chicken-and-egg debate: the car manufacturers wait for a fuel distribution network to be set up and the fuel suppliers for cars to be produced.

"In the end we decided to take a risk and build the first station and, as you can see, the first cars have already arrived," he added.

The filling station is the first in a series planned in the HyNor Project, a collaboration involving more than 30 Norwegian commercial, industrial and governmental partners. The initial objective of the initiative is to make hydrogen-powered travel feasible between Stavanger and Oslo.

The Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE can run on either petrol or hydrogen, offering low emissions when the liquid-gas is available, with the failsafe of being able to use petrol if it is not.

To demonstrate its commitment to alternative fuel technologies, Mazda began leasing out its technology to corporate Japanese firms this year and plans to mass produce the model.

Hydrogen technology is a key future market for platinum and pgms, which have been used in hydrogen vehicles as well as storage technology for the gas.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd