The hydrogen filling station of DATS 24 in Wilrijk was officially opened. The filling station is part of the Interreg project Hydrogen Region 2.0 that WaterstofNet has initiated and also coordinates.
The opening started with speeches by Raf Flebus, Business Unit Manager and Jonas Cautaerts, Head of Business Development & Innovation of DATS 24/Colruyt Group and Adwin Martens, director of WaterstofNet.
This was followed by a first official refuelling moment with Bram de Kort, director of Interreg Flanders-The Netherlands and Ann Larosse, Innovation Manager at ALD Automotive.
Subsequently, fleet managers from the region were given a look at the benefits and opportunities for hydrogen cars in their company fleets. Hyundai presented the NEXO and Toyota the Mirai. ALD Automotive presented its leasing options.
The filling station in Wilrijk is the second hydrogen filling station of DATS 24 (and the fourth in Belgium).
In 2018, DATS Halle – also within hydrogen region 2.0 – already realised the very first fully integrated hydrogen filling station in Europe.
The new hydrogen station in Wilrijk next to the Cardoen site now creates additional opportunities for companies and individuals in Antwerp.
Moreover, it is the intention that soon garbage trucks will also be able to refuel on hydrogen (Revive), which will be used by the City of Antwerp as part of its sustainability policy.
The opening of this public hydrogen station along the A12 in Wilrijk is the starting signal for the opening of a series of new H2 stations in Belgium.
In addition to Wilrijk, DATS 24 will open hydrogen stations in Haasrode, Erpe-Mere, and Herve, among others, in the coming months. These filling stations are part of the CEF project ‘H2BeNeLux’, which is also coordinated by WaterstofNet.
Adwin Martens, Managing Director of WaterstofNe, said:
An acceleration is needed to get society moving towards zero emissions.
“Green molecules such as hydrogen will play a crucial role in getting everyone on board. That is why we ensured that this DATS 24 hydrogen station, a tough investment, was co-financed within the Hydrogen Region 2.0 programme of Interreg Flanders-The Netherlands.”
Raf Flebus, Business Unit Manager of DATS 24, said:
Driving on hydrogen is electric driving, with on top of that a combination of unique advantages: a fast refueling, emission-free driving and a guaranteed electric range of 650 to 700 km.
“It doesn’t get any better than that. All you need is an H2 gas station nearby. For many companies in this area, this is now possible.”
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Official opening hydrogen filling station Wilrijk DATS 24 (Hydrogen region 2.0), May 30, 2022
