California Hydrogen Refueling Stations Fall Short

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has reported that the state is projected to fall short of its goal to establish 200 hydrogen refueling stations by 60%, with only 87 expected to be operational by the end of 2025. This shortfall is attributed to permitting delays, supply issues, and the closure of seven stations operated by Shell, leading to a decline in the total number of stations to 62. By 2030, CARB anticipates only 129 stations will be in place, which is significantly lower than previously forecasted. Despite this, the state's hydrogen fueling capacity is expected to exceed demand by nearly ten times through 2030, excluding downtime. The report suggests that the stagnant growth in hydrogen infrastructure may impact the adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), as manufacturers express concerns about the network's expansion. CARB's findings indicate that auto manufacturers are not anticipating significant growth in the hydrogen fueling network, which could hinder future vehicle sales.