The world is likely to exceed a global temperature rise of 1.5 °C within the next decade. That means that a climate change tipping point is approaching, which could bring even more dangerous weather events and wildfires.
Reducing greenhouse emissions in the U.S. is mission-critical. The U.S. is in the number two spot for most emissions. Transportation generates the most greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., accounting for a whopping 28 percent of total emissions. Adopting zero-emission vehicles is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the nation.
While electric vehicles (EVs) do not produce tailpipe emissions, however, they have disadvantages. Because they must be charged with electricity, the electricity that is used to power charging stations emits emissions if not powered by renewable energy. The battery production of EVs is energy-intensive and generates significant emissions.
EVs are not the only zero-emission vehicles that exist. Building on this, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) emerge as an alternative with several notable advantages over EVs. Hydrogen fuel can be sustainably produced, and drivers benefit from quick refueling at retail stations, lasting about 300 miles before the next refill.
California Leads the Nation In Fuel Cell Vehicle Adoption
This shift toward hydrogen technology is illustrated in California, where Foothill Transit added hydrogen fuel-powered buses to its fleet. The agency carries more than 11 million customers annually in the San Gabriel Valley, Pomona Valley, and downtown Los Angeles. In 2023, the Pomona Hydrogen Fueling Station began operating. The station has a 25,000-gallon hydrogen fuel tank, the largest used for transit in North America. Foothill Transit is also building a new station in Arcadia to store liquid hydrogen and dispense it in a gas form.
Clean Energy Corp. announced it had won a 20-year contract to design, build, and maintain a second hydrogen fuelling station for Foothill Transit. Chad Lindholm, senior vice president at Clean Energy, praised the transportation agency. “Foothill continues to set the standard for sustainability in transit, and we’re excited to help expand their hydrogen infrastructure as they move proactively toward a zero-emissions future,” he said.
Foothill Transit has a fleet of low-emission buses of over 30 bus lines and more than 300 buses in Southern California. The agency aims to have a 100 percent zero-emission bus fleet. Since 2010, it has had a fleet of 33 electric buses, the largest in the U.S., including two EV double-decker buses.
Hydrogen Projects Around the Globe
Around the globe, 680 large-scale hydrogen projects have been announced, totaling $240 billion in direct investments. Europe accounts for 314 of the announced projects, while China accounts for roughly half. In China, the focus is on transportation use. Planned production for hydrogen through 2030 is more than 26 million tons a year. Analysts expect hydrogen production costs to decrease over the next decade.
The outlook for hydrogen fuel is optimistic. Hydrogen could contribute to over 20 percent of annual global emissions reductions by 2050. The global FCV market is on track to increase to over $30 billion by 2032, which is over 25 percent compounded annually. However, an investment gap for hydrogen exists. A net-zero carbon economy requires $460 billion in direct investments by 2030.
California Encourages the Adoption of FCVs
California leads the way in encouraging the adoption of FCVs. In 2013, the California legislature passed a bill, AB 8, to develop an FCV fueling network. The bill invests $20 million annually to support the construction of fueling stations. Its Clean Transportation Program supports adopting FCV through the expansion of the state’s hydrogen fueling stations. The Energy Commission has been investing in an initial network of 100 public hydrogen stations across California.
The Golden State recently updated its Low Carbon Fuel Standard to help accelerate commercial adoption of FCVs and the fuel station network they will need. The new policies direct the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission to plan and fund the fuel station network.
California has the largest GDP ($3.5 trillion) of any state and the fifth-largest economy in the world. There is an old saying that as ‘California goes, so goes the nation. As California develops its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle infrastructure network and the market in the state grows, the nation will eventually follow.
