Hydrogen

ENABLING A ZERO-EMISSION SOCIETY

Discover the colors of hydrogen, debunk the myths around hydrogen, and learn the facts and key moments in history for hydrogen

A Modern History of Hydrogen

1520
First recorded observation of hydrogen by Paracelsus through dissolution of metals (iron, zinc, and tin) in sulfuric acid
1801
Humphry Davy discovers the concept of the Fuel Cell.
1875
L'Île mystérieuse (The Mysterious Island) by Jules Vernes is published.
1909
Count Ferdinand Adolf August von Zeppelin made the first long distance flight with the Zeppelin LZ5.
1919
The first Atlantic crossing by airship with the Beardmore HMA R34.
1929
The hydrogen-filled LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin made a 33,234 km circumnavigation of the world. The voyage took a total of 21 days, 5 hours, and 31 minutes.
1937
Hydrogen is the scapegoat for the Hindenburg crash, operated by Zeppelin, while the causes are more complex, shattering nonetheless public confidence and delayed the advent of air travel.
1939
Hans Gaffron discovered that algae can switch between producing oxygen and hydrogen.
1966
General Motors presents Electrovan, the world's first fuel cell automobile
1970
John Bockris or Lawrence W. Jones coined the term hydrogen economy
2002
The Hydrogen Economy by Jeremy Rifkin is published
2008
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH) launched
6 May 2014
FCH 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) extended by the European Commission to 2020 with €1.33 billion
2016
Toyota releases its first hydrogen fuel cell car, the Mirai
2018
Hydrogen Valleys (H2Vs) Platform launched
2020
“A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe”
2021-2025
Kick-Start Phase
2025-2035
Ramp-Up Phase
Post 2035
Market Growth Phase