First public hydrogen refuelling station set to power government vehicles

Located in Fyshwick just outside of the Canberra CBD, the station produces its own hydrogen gas on-site by capturing rainwater and using specialist equipment to create the fuel – powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

The station's opening coincided with the ACT Government's arrival of 20 Hyundai Nexo hydrogen vehicles.

Hydrogen gas is sold by the kilogram, with pricing at the bowser to sit around $10-$15 per kg.

It takes just five minutes to refuel a Hyundai Nexo from empty with approximately 6kg of Hydrogen gas. The average cost of a single refuel is $90, which enables a Nexo to travel a claimed 666km.

"We need to transition to zero emissions vehicles as soon as we can," Attorney-General of the ACT and Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury told media at the Australian launch of the Hyundai Nexo.

"More than 60 per cent of emissions come from transport (in the ACT). A zero-emissions government fleet will be practical within three years."

The ACT government already has a fleet on Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicles currently in-use by public servants.

It claims its electric vehicles have seen an "80 per cent reduction" in running costs when compared to internal combustion vehicles in the same fleet.

Though the ACT was supplied 100 per cent by renewable energy in 2020, the Attorney-General expressed he would like to see the territory achieve net zero-emissions by 2045.