California Fuel Cell Partnership calls for 46 retail hydrogen stations, will cost just $180m
Last year, the California Fuel Cell Partnership released a "vision document" that laid out the group's plan for introducing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to California by 2015. The gist: start building refueling stations in LA and San Francisco-Sacramento with private and public money. You can download the vision document (abbreviated / full, both in PDF) from the CaFCP.
Yesterday, the CaFCP released their action plan for implementing the goals in the vision. On top of the two areas named last year, the action plan adds four places that should become "hydrogen communities": Santa Monica, Irvine, Torrance and Newport Beach. All told, CaFCP sees 46 retail hydrogen fueling stations in the six areas at a cost estimated at $180 million over four years (two-thirds of that to be paid for by the government). This will "meet the fuel needs of 4,300 passenger vehicles and 20 fuel cell buses by 2014" Want to do the math with me? That's more than $41,000 per vehicle. Of course, since the CaFCP says they expect 50,000 fuel cell vehicles in customer hands by 2017, they consider the $180 million an investment in the future. You?
[Source: California Fuel Cell Partnership]
PRESS RELEASE:
California Fuel Cell Partnership Action Plan: 46 Retail Hydrogen Stations by 2014 in Six California Communities Serving Thousands of Fuel Cell Vehicles
Sacramento, Calif. -- The California Fuel Cell Partnership has released an action plan that details a strategy for deploying hydrogen fueling stations and fuel cell vehicles in California . Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle and Station Deployment Plan: A Strategy for Meeting the Challenge Ahead specifies the steps needed to meet the fuel needs of 4,300 passenger vehicles and 20 fuel cell buses by 2014, and prepares for even more growth though 2017. The plan calls for 46 retail hydrogen fueling stations in six key California communities at a cost of about $180 million over four years; $60 million from industry and $120 million from government.
"By 2017, automotive manufacturers plan to place 50,000 zero-emission fuel cell vehicles in customer hands. FCVs will provide the performance, durability, driving range, and comfort that customers want, and meet the nation's need for a domestic fuel that is better for the environment," explained Catherine Dunwoody , CaFCP's Executive Director.
The California Fuel Cell Partnership's action plan has three focus areas:
- Developing early "hydrogen communities" for passenger vehicles with clusters of retail hydrogen stations in four Southern California communities: Santa Monica , Irvine , Torrance and Newport Beach , with additional stations to support the next identified communities and a network of connector stations
- Expanding the transit program in the San Francisco Bay Area with new mixed-use stations that provide fuel for passenger vehicles and transit buses, as well as dedicated retail hydrogen stations for passenger vehicles.
- Developing codes, standards and regulations with a state-of-the-art hydrogen station in the Sacramento area that will enable regulatory agencies to validate new test procedures as well as provide fuel for passenger vehicles in the Sacramento area.
To date, 250 demonstration vehicles-passenger and transit buses-have been placed on California 's roads. They fuel at 26 hydrogen stations in the state. Most of these are small stations built to fuel a specific fleet of cars for a limited period. Only six of California 's current stations are useable by all the automakers and their customers. California will need 50-100 hydrogen stations in just eight years, which will require the collaborative efforts of multiple industry and government entities.
"It's important to start today," concluded Ms. Dunwoody. "Building hydrogen stations to meet customers' fuel needs in 2014 will put California on the path to the early commercial market for fuel cell vehicles. FCVs will help reach California 's goals for improving our air quality, securing our energy future and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
Please visit www.cafcp.org for the overview or full version of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle and Station Deployment Plan: A Strategy for Meeting the Challenge Ahead.
CaFCP is a public-private collaboration of organizations including auto manufacturers, energy providers, fuel cell technology companies and government agencies working together to promote the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle technology are a central part of a long-term strategy for air quality, climate protection and energy diversity.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
harlanx6 2:28PM (3/26/2009)
Jen:
I can't say i've driven a fuel cell car. How many of them are there world wide, 12 or 14? I think if you want a fuel cell car, you should have one, and I hope it is the best, cleanest, safest, most convenient and cheapest form of transportation on the planet. There is just no chance that will ever be true. For one thing, there is little demand for them. I didn't say no demand, but they are never going to be able to compete because of the costs. Electric motors and batteries are simple devices, with few moving parts, and the technology has been around for a century. We continue to argue with you hydrogen people, but the argument is moot. Just go out and buy yourself a HFC car. Sorry, you will just have to settle for something else, non are available. When they do hit the showroom floor, who will be able to afford them? I am assuming you can, but if you can, you could also afford a limo and driver.
jen 3:23PM (3/26/2009)
harlan,
actually, there are hundreds of fuel cell cars on the road around the world. That's not even counting buses. Do you even know what a fuel cell is? There are no moving parts in a fuel cell AND the technology has been around for a century, too. Your same arguments for batteries that take longer to recharge and there are less cars on the road today. I don't understand how you could argue for a technology that isn't feasible right now acting like you can go out and buy one? At least Honda, GM and Toyota are either demonstrating or actually leasing their FCVs, and Mercedes and Kia just announced they will have their car ready by 2012. Where are your battery cars right now? In a tiny 2-seater Tesla? How about a full-sized passenger car that can get 200+ miles per charge? No? I didn't think so. The battery is too heavy and takes too long to charge to be feasible for actual driving, maybe for local grocery shopping or something.
Jay Leno is driving a GM fuel cell car right now. In Japan, you can lease a Nissan fuel cell limo.
The technology is feasible so why are you against it? THere are thousands installed worldwide in stationary applications and now almost 500 fuel cell forklifts working in warehouses around the world. It won't take too much longer to get the cost of the fuel cell and the hydrogen to commercialize vehicles if we keep at it - why stop progress? why can't we investigate all technologies instead of vilifying one you obviously know nothing about?
harlanx6 4:27PM (3/26/2009)
It's just a matter of cost, Jen. Statistically several hundred fuel cell cars world wide is insignificant. What Jay Leno drives is interesting, because he has the coolest cars on the planet, but it isn't significant either. Electricity is universally available, and a charging station is not much more complex than putting up a street light. EVs are mostly small and the range is short, but they are available, almost affordable, and getting better. There are a million tinkerers building their own EVs in their garages.
It takes as much energy to split water as you get out of it. If the cost can be driven down, and you don't mind a high pressure tank in your car, OK. I would agree with you. You really seem to be convinced this is the best way to go. Up until now, though only the really deep pockets can even consider one. I shouldn't have said they will never be competitive.
Lets let the market decide. We'll go to the showrooms and buy whatever we think is the best value for the money. I think that is where the FCVs are going to run into trouble.
Noz 4:27PM (3/26/2009)
Well said Jen.
It amazes me the nearsightedness and ignorance of people here. I wonder how may luxuries they enjoy so much today would not be available now where it that research and development was stopped on those products just because it doesn't serve their needs today.
Truly a most retarded approach.
jen 4:38PM (3/26/2009)
harlan,
yes, it does take energy to make hydrogen, but a fuel cell is two to three times more efficient than an ICE engine so the well-to-wheels (fuel use from start to finish) actually makes it extremely efficient. you fail to mention how we make electricity in this country to charge your batteries. here's a hint, it's coal and it's pretty dirty. i'm not saying we shouldn't be trying to get an EV out there but why do we have to choose only one pathway to pursue? you know they can work together - Chevy showcased a Volt with a fuel cell range extender and it added 300 miles to the range of the vehicle.
thanks noz. you are exactly right.
harlanx6 4:46PM (3/26/2009)
We make our electricity with a 35KW small hydro system, and as long as we keep the water running, it's greener that the grass. I knew weird NOZ would agree with you. Now if you can come up with cold fusion, you would have something.
Noz 5:22PM (3/26/2009)
Harlan:
I'm not surprised by your response. Closed-mindedness has always been the Achilles heel of humans.
harlanx6 11:44PM (3/26/2009)
You win Noz. I am going out to buy myself a HFCV. You finally convinced me.
Chris M 11:49PM (3/26/2009)
Jen, lets get some actual figures:
Total number of H2 FC vehicles on the road, including busses, from all manufacturers: 250
Total number of H2 FC vehicles purchased by individuals: 0
Total number of EVs delivered to paying customers by just one company,Tesla Motors: 265
Of course, this doesn't include all the EV conversions done, or the plug-in hybrids, or the tens of thousands of NEVs on the road, but it is quite clear that plug-ins are far ahead of H2 FC vehicles, and when it comes to actual affordability and ownership, H2FC hasn't even gotten started.
Noz 2:06AM (3/27/2009)
HARLAN:
I really couldn't care less what you buy.
Just be more open-minded. It really isn't that hard....well...maybe it is for you. I don't know.
harlanx6 10:57AM (3/27/2009)
The proof will be in the showroom, Noz. I could be wrong. So could you.
Noz 4:44PM (3/27/2009)
Harlan,
I think neither of us are wrong. That's what I'm trying to say and keep saying. There's a use for both technologies. Some will be served with batteries...others will be served with chemical fuels like hydrogen.
Hydrogen may not be used widely for house-hold transports..but it will definitely be used in other transport requirements that batteries simply cannot be used for now or for a very long time.
harlanx6 5:22PM (3/27/2009)
I agree with you Noz. What I am trying to say is I don't want an HFCV. I do want an EV. Practical hiway use affordable EVs will be on the showroom floor soon, and if they aren't I'll just have to wait. I have the additional incentive in that my electricity if 100% free. Why would I want an HFCV? I am a special case. The real question is: Are practical, affordable HFCVs going to be on the showroom floor any time soon? From what I read it's kind of doubtful. Just who is closed minded here? I may decide on an interim vehicle. As I have continually said, a PHEV with a 900cc turbo-diesel kicker for range extension would serve me well until we can send all the ICEs to the recycler.
Carney 3:26PM (3/31/2009)
I don't want hydrogen OR electric; I want an alcohol car.
harlanx6 7:48PM (3/31/2009)
See how you are Carney. Alcohol is OK for now. The whackos find fault with it because CO2 is one of it's emissions, but less than gasoline. We can't have everything all at once, but alcohol is a good incremental step.
occ 5:50PM (3/25/2009)
Can CA tax payers opt out on this deal?!? Say, get $5 bucks credit on CA Taxes ($180mil/population37mil) and promised never to use a hydrogen fueling station forever?
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scammer-killer 6:42PM (3/25/2009)
What an absolute waste of resources. HFCV will never be mainstream, at least not in my life time while Plug--Ins will be.
This is why I'm a firm believer that if we want this done right we can't count on big business and the gov't to do it for us. We just have to go out and get it done ourselves.
At my business I'm installing (2) 220V 30a charging posts for free for my customers. I hope someone takes notice. (before it's too late)
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Randy C. 7:53PM (3/25/2009)
What are they planning to power these stations with? It takes 4 to 5 times more electricity to drive a mile in a HFC car than a simple battery electric car. A couple of solar powered pilot hydrogen stations costing $1.2 million each have been. The problem with them is they can only fuel 10-12 cars PER DAY.
You can't use hydrogen from natural gas or petroleum. It is contaminated with carbon which is very difficult to scrub out. Carbon clogs the fuel cell membranes rendering the cell inoperative. One problem with the fuel cell car is it gets its oxygen from the atmosphere, which has CO2 in it. This will kill a fuel cell after just 30,000 miles, then a $250,000 cell has to be replaced. Why so expensive? They use platinum as a catalyst.
With these numbers it's easy to see that we just can't afford hydrogen!
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Chris M 8:55PM (3/25/2009)
To be sure, the PEM fuel cells they plan to use are somewhat resistant to CO2, unlike alkaline fuel cells that are quickly poisoned by CO2. Even so, the lifespan of PEM fuel cells is somewhat short and the cost is far too high, they just aren't ready for mass marketing yet, and won't be for several decades.
Solid oxide fuel cells and molten carbonate fuel cells can run on carbon containing fuels, but their high operating temperature requirements make them a poor choice for automotive use.
Tohe 9:14PM (3/25/2009)
This is worse than the AIG bonuses. I'm going to be pissed if my tax dollars go to these idiots along with their inefficient technology.
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