With capacity of over 100kg of hydrogen per day, the San Giuliano Enistation is equipped with two dispensing points, which are said to refuel vehicles in approximately five minutes, including buses.

Built by the Italian multinational oil and gas company, Eni, the station also supplies traditional fuels, as well as facilitating electric vehicle charging services.

In 2019, the Municipality and Metropolitan City of Venice, Eni, and Toyota Motor Italia, signed an agreement which would see a minimum of 10 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell powered cars on the city’s roads.

Three have since been delivered, with additional three expects to be dedicated to the KINTO car-sharing service in the city of Venice.

Luigi Ksawery Luca, CEO of Toyota Motor Italia, said, “Today marks a fundamental step in the development of hydrogen mobility in Italy.

“We are excited and proud to support Eni and the City of Venice in the success of this project by making our Mirai cars available. The path to zero-emission mobility must leverage the widespread use of both hydrogen and battery-powered vehicles, two technologies which we view as fully complementary to each other.

“The hope is that this will be the first of many hydrogen refuelling stations which will soon align Italy to other European countries.”

The opening of the Venetian station comes after Eni and Air Liquide announced they would seek to deploy multiple refuelling station across Italy, last year (2021).

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Guiseppe Ricci, Chief Operating Officer for Eni Energy Evolution, said, “For us, this is an achievement, as well as a starting point.

“We want to play a leading role and it is no coincidence that we are in place such as Veneto and Venice, creating infrastructure that responds to the demand for sustainable mobility and, more generally, an effective and practical energy transition.

“Our commitment rests with our customers, to whom we want to offer all our people and car-based services and products.”

The new station comes in line with Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), by modernising local public transport.

Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor of Venice, explained, “Today Venice, thanks to Eni and the full support of the entire municipal administration, has provided tangible proof that it is truly the World Capital of Sustainability.

“It is a city that in recent years has been investing resources to contribute to an energy transition that effectively guarantees the protection the environment.

“The oldest city of the future, it provides an example for many other administrations that will be able to see what we are doing. Above all, thanks to Toyota, will be adding new hydrogen-powered cars to the Municipality’s car fleet. The future of Venice is today, and in this spirit, we keep looking forward”