Method and apparatus for refueling an electrochemical engine

A refueling apparatus for refueling a vehicle powered by an electrochemical engine, comprising:

• a fuel fill pocket accessible to the exterior of the vehicle and having an interior end with pocket passages for refueling a storage tank in the engine and circulating cooled pre-refueling coolant from a refueling station through said storage tank and back to the refueling station, a fuel fill door concealing said fuel fill pocket when closed and having an unlocking feature, a nozzle operably connected to the refueling station and slideably receivable within said fuel fill pocket and having nozzle passages complementary to said pocket passages, and a companion unlocking feature, which operates in conjunction with said fuel fill door unlocking feature by unlocking said fuel fill door when said nozzle is placed adjacent to said fuel fill door, a flow communication means to ensure said nozzle passages are in flow communication with said pocket passages, an interlocking means for securing said nozzle in said fuel fill pocket when said nozzle is fully inserted, and mating communication ports in said nozzle and said fuel fill pocket operable to send and receive electronic signals therebetween and to a controller for controlling the operation of refueling.