The commitment of Iceland towards creating the first hydrogen society has reached new heights with the SMART-H2 project. The Icelandic team is convinced that hydrogen can be one of the key energy carriers coupled with extensive use of renewable energy in the future and this new initiative will bring Iceland into a pre-commercial hydrogen society.

Mercedes-Benz fuel cell buses have been running since 2003 and the hydrogen refuelling station has been operating successfully and safely. The hydrogen refuelling station has delivered over 20 tons of hydrogen, mostly to the buses but also for other hydrogen activities.

Looking to expand the use of hydrogen, Icelandic New Energy (INE) is running a project with fuel cell passenger vehicles. Introducing passenger vehicles means a new set of service requirements.

INE/Shell Hydrogen will offer hydrogen at a price that will make driving a fuel cell car cost-effective when compared to a petrol driven car. Within the SMART-H2 it is also intended to increase the availability of H2 in Reykjavik by opening retail outlets.

Subject to the results of testing, Icelandic New Energy (INE) is making available a small fleet of hydrogen rental cars via Hertz Car Rental in Iceland.  Toyota�"s hybrid Prius model are being converted to run on hydrogen.

Hertz is one of the biggest low cost car rentals in Iceland.  The car fleet is around 1000 cars during summer and 600 in the winter.

A report by The Mole