Torrance California Hydrogen Station

California Retail Hydrogen

RMP has been tracking hydrogen infrastructure since 2005. We launched our first hydrogen infrastructure map in 2008. Our first map was based strictly on the DOE’s AFDC national database of hydrogen refueling locations. The DOE mostly had research and development stations like GM’s Milford Proving Grounds station less than 10 miles from RMP’s HQ. RMP’s national H2 map started to morph into much more than just refueling stations as we added locations not in the AFDC like production locations, bus refueling, Canadian refueling locations, electrolyzer manfac locations, and H2 storage locations.

This page, however, is dedicated to the California retail H2 refueling history alone where retail hydrogen to the public was born. RMP has created two more feature maps that focus on California’s retail H2 market: Our California Real Time Hydrogen Refueling Status Map which shows every California station reporting SOSS along with it’s real time status and available inventory and our California Hydrogen Refueling Stations Coming Soon Map which shows several stations in various stages of development that will come online soon at which point they will be added to our Real Time H2 Refueling Status map.

RMP has gigabytes of data on each California retail station in terms of its percentage of renewable H2, its H2 capacity, its operator, its funding source and funding amounts, and obviously its location. We have been recording SOSS statuses 24/7 for every station since 2022 and will start to use this massive amount of data along with information gleaned from the knowledgeable folks on Hydrogen Car Owners facebook page to continue to write about the H2 refueling scene in California.

Let’s take a high level look at the basic chronology of the California Retail H2 Refueling market in terms of where things started, where we are today, and what we expect for tomorrow.

California Retail Hydrogen Chronology:

1. Early Exhibition Stations (1999 – 2010s)

Initial Development and Demonstration Projects:

  • 1999: The concept of hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel began gaining traction in California during the late 1990s. The first hydrogen refueling station in California opened at the University of California, Davis. It was primarily used for research and development, rather than public retail, and marked the beginning of hydrogen infrastructure in the state.
  • 2004: The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), a public-private collaboration formed in 1999, played a crucial role in the early development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure. This included demonstration projects aimed at proving the feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) and the supporting refueling infrastructure.

Exhibition and Research Stations:

  • Mid-2000s: These early hydrogen stations were mainly demonstration projects and not truly public retail outlets. They were located at universities, research institutions, and some corporate locations, such as the Honda station in Torrance. These stations were often limited in capacity and availability, serving primarily as pilot projects to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell technology and its potential.

Legislative and Financial Support:

  • 2005: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the “California Hydrogen Highway” initiative, which aimed to develop a network of hydrogen refueling stations across the state. However, funding and deployment were initially slow.
  • 2007: Assembly Bill 118 (AB 118) was passed, establishing the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP). This provided much-needed funding for the development of alternative fuel infrastructure, including hydrogen refueling stations.

2. Expansion and First Retail Stations (2010s)

Transition to Public Retail Stations:

  • 2011: The California Energy Commission (CEC) began funding the development of public hydrogen refueling stations, marking the transition from exhibition stations to those intended for broader public use.
  • 2012-2013: The first public retail hydrogen stations opened in California, primarily in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas. These stations were designed to be fully accessible to the public, with the goal of supporting the nascent market of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Legislative Advances:

  • 2013: Senate Bill 11 (SB 11) and Assembly Bill 8 (AB 8) were passed, extending the funding for ARFVTP through 2023. AB 8 specifically allocated up to $20 million per year for hydrogen refueling infrastructure until at least 100 public stations were operational.
  • 2015: The introduction of the Toyota Mirai, the first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, further accelerated the need for a robust hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

3. Expansion and Technological Advances (Late 2010s – Present)

Growth of the Network:

  • 2015-2020: The number of public hydrogen stations grew significantly during this period, with around 40 stations operational by 2020. The focus was on expanding the network to provide sufficient coverage for FCEV owners, primarily in major metropolitan areas.
  • 2020: The CEC continued to fund the development of hydrogen stations, with the goal of reaching the 100-station milestone as quickly as possible. This period also saw an increase in the capacity and reliability of hydrogen stations, as well as improvements in the fueling experience for consumers.

Technological and Business Model Shifts:

  • 2021-Present: True Zero, a major player in California’s hydrogen infrastructure, began focusing on the next generation of hydrogen refueling stations. This includes the development of liquid hydrogen (LH2) stations, which offer several advantages over gaseous hydrogen stations.

4. Next Generation LH2 Stations (2020s and Beyond)

Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) Stations:

  • 2020s: True Zero and other companies have started to shift toward LH2 stations as the next major phase in hydrogen refueling infrastructure. These stations store hydrogen in its liquid form, which allows for greater energy density and easier transport and storage. LH2 stations are expected to improve refueling speeds, reduce costs, and increase the availability of hydrogen across the state.

Advantages of LH2 Stations:

  • Higher Storage Capacity: LH2 stations can store more hydrogen on-site compared to traditional gaseous hydrogen stations, which means they can service more vehicles before needing a refill.
  • Improved Efficiency: LH2 stations can potentially reduce the cost of hydrogen by improving the efficiency of storage and distribution.
  • Scalability: The ability to scale up infrastructure more easily makes LH2 stations a critical component in the long-term strategy to meet the increasing demand for hydrogen as more FCEVs hit the market.

Ongoing Legislative and Financial Support:

  • 2023: Continued legislative support through AB 8 and other initiatives ensures ongoing funding for hydrogen infrastructure. The state remains committed to achieving its goal of 100 hydrogen stations and beyond, with plans for further expansion as the market for FCEVs grows.

Conclusion

California’s retail hydrogen refueling infrastructure has evolved from early research and demonstration projects in the 1990s and 2000s to a growing network of public retail stations today. Early efforts were heavily supported by legislation and funding aimed at building the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Now, the focus is shifting toward next-generation liquid hydrogen stations, which promise to enhance the scalability, efficiency, and consumer experience of hydrogen refueling, positioning California as a leader in the adoption of hydrogen as a clean transportation fuel.