Toyota Motor Sales has launched a hydrogen fueling station in the US fed directly from an active industrial hydrogen pipeline.

The fueling station was developed by Toyota, Air Products, Shell, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Department of Energy (DOE).

The facility will provide hydrogen for the Toyota fuel cell hybrid demonstration program vehicles as well as other manufacturers’ fuel cell vehicle fleets in the Los Angeles area.

As station owner/operator, Shell works with Air Products who provides onsite equipment and station maintenance.

Air Products will also provide the pipeline gas from its plants in Wilmington and Carson located in California, US.

The fueling station has received project funding assistance from SCAQMD and DOE.

Air Products also worked with Toyota and other fuel cell vehicle manufacturers to develop the Hydrogen Vehicle Authorization System (HVAS), that allows station-to-vehicle recognition to facilitate quick and convenient fueling for customers.

The HVAS is scheduled for installation in 2012 and is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 10,000 tons with emission-free fuel cell technology.