WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Hydrogen as an alternative fuel is about to take another step forward.

Linde LLC will soon open its first U.S. hydrogen fueling station at the Ramos Oil Co. gas station here. The station is expected to open by the end of this year.

“We are very excited to be working with Ramos Oil on this project,” said Nitin Natesan, business development manager for Linde Hydrogen Fueling. “This high-throughput retail station is a very significant step forward in the commercialization of hydrogen-fueled cars.”

The hydrogen fueling station will feature a Linde IC 90 ionic compressor. Ionic liquids essentially have no vapor pressure and therefore do not evaporate or mix with hydrogen gas, stated Mike Beckman, head of hydrogen fueling for Linde North America. “With this compressor, Linde has made a valuable contribution to the ongoing enhancement of today’s hydrogen fueling infrastructure,” he said.

Ramos Oil already offers traditional petroleum, diesel, biodiesel, E85, methanol and racing fuels at its West Sacramento location.

“We are delighted to be working with Linde on this exciting project,” said Kent Ramos, president of Ramos Oil Company. “We have been serving the Sacramento market with a variety of fuels for over 60 years and we are anxious to support the infrastructure necessary to prove that hydrogen has a place in the transportation fuel mix.”

Linde LLC is a gases and engineering company that employs approximately 65,000 workers in more than 100 countries.

Ramos Oil Co. was founded 60 years ago as a Shell Oil distributor. It is family owned and operated, with the third generation now running the business.