ARB Chair Mary Nichols, CA officials leading hydrogen fuel cell vehicle rally from LA to Sacramento
20 April 2016
California Air Resources Board (ARB) Chair Mary Nichols today is leading a rally of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles with Energy Commissioner Janea Scott and Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) Deputy Director Tyson Eckerle on a 400-mile journey from Los Angeles to ARB headquarters in Sacramento in celebration of Earth Day.
The rally is intended to highlight that these hydrogen-fueled electric vehicles are now available for sale or lease, and there is a rapidly growing statewide network of hydrogen filling stations to support them.
California leads the US in developing hydrogen fueling stations, with 15 retail stations open now and more than 30 additional in development.
In an effort to put my money where my mouth is, I’ve become an early adopter of electric vehicles and just recently extended my range with a new fuel cell electric vehicle. Thanks to California’s hydrogen infrastructure investments, my Toyota Mirai FCEV can get me anywhere I need to go.
This rally puts the network to the test and gives us a fun opportunity to highlight that hydrogen-powered cars are essential to meeting our climate goals and a crucial tool in the state’s effort to clean up our air—especially in the Central Valley.
—ARB Chair Mary Nichols
Fuel cell electric vehicles in the rally include models from Toyota, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz.
The California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program is providing cost-sharing for an initial network of at least 100 stations through 2023 by investing up to $20 million each year for stations located where customers driving fuel cell electric vehicles live, work and travel. About $100 million has been invested to date to support the construction, operation and maintenance of 49 hydrogen refueling stations, including a mobile refueler.
There are more than 300 fuel cell electric vehicles on the road in California today; ARB staff projects 6,650 fuel cell electric vehicles will be registered in the state in 2017, and 10,500 in 2018.
A hand (as usual) to California for 49 H2 stations (with up to 100 coming) and 300 FCEVs (today), 6650 FCEVs in 2017 and 10,500 FCEVs in 2018.
Other States will catch up fast. By 2020/2022, H2 Stations and FCEVs (over 100,000) will be common place in all 50 States.
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 April 2016 at 09:20 AM
CARB killed the EV1 and other electric vehicles by supporting the fuel cell vehicle too early and too much.
The Artemis technology hydraulic hybrid would prevent more CO2 release at lower cost.
Over twenty years ago, ZEBRA batteries, if put into electric vehicles with micro-range-extenders would have saved more CO2 release at far lower cost than hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will save in the next twenty.
Ian Wright suggests that his truck drive system, running on natural gas, will prevent more CO2 release than electric vehicles would. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 21 April 2016 at 04:06 PM
Yes, there are many interim possible solutions to lower GHG, pollution and fuel consumption.
However, more permanent solutions will involve BEVs for short and medium range vehicles and FCEVs for longer range heavier vehicles, at least till 5-5-5 and 10-10-10 batteries become available.
Simultaneously, improved batteries and FCs will find their way into light e-planes, e-drones and many other mobile applications.
Posted by: HarveyD | 23 April 2016 at 12:19 PM