A decree published in the Official Gazette provides for the raising of the pressure limit at hydrogen refuelling stations to 700 bar. This means modern fuel cell vehicles will be able to refuel in three minutes, in complete safety.
A long-awaited milestone has now become reality. On 13 January 2017, decree 257 of 16 December 2016 was published in the Official Gazette, through which Italy transposes European directive 2014/94/EU on infrastructure for alternative fuels. What does this mean? It means that our country is committed to building an adequate refuelling network, comprising, for example, charging points for electric vehicles or, likewise, hydrogen refuelling points. The aim, as stated in the text, is "to reduce dependence on oil and mitigate the environmental impact in the transport sector".
When it comes to alternative fuels, hydrogen cannot be overlooked. Italy has recognised hydrogen as a fundamental resource and has committed to establishing an adequate number of refuelling stations by 2025. In this regard, the decree provides for the raising, by 31 March 2017, of the maximum pressure limit at hydrogen refuelling pumps, from the current 350 bar (set by decree no. 213/2006) to 700 bar — the value required to meet the needs of vehicles currently on the market such as the Mirai, Toyota's hydrogen car. Andrea Carlucci, managing director of Toyota Motor Italia, commented on the news as follows: "The work carried out by Toyota over the past two years, together with the institutions involved, has produced important results. And it is precisely those institutions that we must thank for the willingness and openness they have shown towards us. For having listened to and shared our vision of the future of mobility, in which hydrogen plays a primary role. The adoption of a clear and far-sighted political perspective is essential if we are not to miss the opportunity to become a country at the forefront of the development and application of a highly innovative resource such as hydrogen."
To date, the only facility capable of producing and storing hydrogen and refuelling fuel cell electric vehicles — from buses for urban public transport to a fleet of cars for hire — is the one located in Bolzano, built as part of the H2 Alto Adige project, but from 31 March things may change. "The entry into force of this decree," Carlucci continued, "represents a crucial moment and highlights Italy's strategic vision, which has in this way provided clear long-term guidance on policies linked to sustainable mobility." On this very front, Toyota has been at the forefront for many years: the Mirai hydrogen saloon represents the pinnacle of the Japanese carmaker's research, as well as the future of the automotive sector. It is, in fact, a vehicle that produces no CO2 emissions, only water vapour, with a zero-impact range of up to 550 km. And soon it will be able to be refuelled, in Italy too, in times comparable to those needed for a full tank of diesel or petrol.
