Global fuel giant Shell and US car manufacturing heavyweight General Motors will today open Washington DC's first hydrogen refuelling station, marking the next step in the nation's movement towards a hydrogen economy.

Sponsored under President Bush's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, the Shell Hydrogen Station will become the first integrated gasoline and hydrogen station across the whole of North America.

The station is to be used to fuel a number of innovative hydrogen fuel cell vehicles manufactured by General Motors which will be used in the Department of Education's Learning Demonstration.

Acting under secretary of energy David K Garman is to join representatives of Shell Hydrogen and General Motors at the unveiling ceremony today, ahead of a tour of the new visitors centre established on site which will provide information on groundbreaking hydrogen technology.

GM official Larry Burns is planning to arrive at the event in a fuel cell vehicle, in order to demonstrate the performance of fuel cell powered motor vehicles.