California Commits Funding for First 100 Hydrogen Stations

The next public hydrogen fueling station to open in California is scheduled for May at CSU Los Angeles. This will be the first in a number of new hydrogen stations that are scheduled to come online this year. There are currently nine hydrogen refueling stations available to the general public in California. Supported by previous California Energy Commission (CEC) grant funding, 19 more are in development throughout the Bay Area and in southern California.

In September 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 8 into law, extending until January 1, 2024, funding for the programs that invest in the development and deployment of advanced technologies necessary to achieve California’s air quality, climate, and energy goals. The bill includes a provision to fund at least 100 hydrogen stations with a commitment of up to $20 million a year through 2023 from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.

In November 2013 the CEC released its most recent Program Opportunity Notice (PON-13-607) providing $29.9 million for the next round of hydrogen refueling infrastructure development in the state. This latest funding round would continue the state’s effort to build the initial hydrogen fueling network to support the commercial introduction of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) by the major auto manufacturers starting in 2015. Applications for this round of infrastructure funding were due in mid-February and are currently under review by CEC staff.

The California Fuel Cell Partnership, an industry-government collaborative consisting of automakers, energy companies, fuel cell technology companies and government agencies, in its July 2012 California Roadmap, identified the need for an initial network of 68 strategically-placed hydrogen stations to successfully support the introduction of FCEVs throughout the state.

In response to the California Air Resources Board (ARB) Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Regulation, major automakers have been required to produce and sell increasing numbers of ZEVs in California and other states that have adopted the ARB ZEV program. Only battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electric vehicles qualify as pure ZEVs. In model year 2015, this requirement is 14% of total California vehicle sales by certain car manufacturers. Automakers will deploy both BEVs and FCEVs to meet this mandate.

Collectively, automakers have spent billions of dollars on the development of FCEVs that run on hydrogen. The short refueling time (about the same as for gasoline vehicles) and vehicle range (over 300 miles per tank) make these vehicles attractive to automakers as a long-term viable replacement for conventional gasoline-powered passenger cars and light-duty vehicles.

Currently, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai are leasing hydrogen FCEVs to consumers in select areas of California. In addition, Toyota and GM loan FCEVs to a number of organizations for road testing. New hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by Hyundai, Honda and Toyota were prominently featured at the most recent Tokyo and Los Angeles auto shows. Hyundai is the first major automaker to mass-produce a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and its Tucson fuel cell SUV will be available in showrooms in Spring 2014. Honda introduced its concept hydrogen fuel cell car at the LA Auto Show. In Tokyo, Toyota unveiled its hydrogen-powered concept, the FCV.  Production versions of both of these cars are expected to be commercially available in 2015.

The California Fuel Cell Partnership in conjunction with Toyota Motor Engineering, Air Liquide and the California Energy Commission will be presenting at the 2014 Pacific Oil Conference, August 26-28 www.petroshow.com and inform attendees on the funding opportunities for Hydrogen Fueling Stations. You can contact the California Fuel Cell Partnership below:

Joe Gagliano
California Fuel Cell Partnership
714-393-2520
jgagliano@cafcp.org
www.cafcp.org