California wants to permanently change the hydrogen engine

Waterborne mobility (as we like to call it) has managed to overtake electric mobility and has clearly shown that the future goes far beyond electric vehicles. China still doesn’t want to believe it and Japan is taking the lead. However, everything could change now with California’s latest strategy to change the game. hydrogen engine forever: they clearly know how to do it, and they are going to position us in front of the entire planet, with a project so futuristic that it is already causing concern among the rest of the countries and car manufacturers.

California’s Hydrogen Engine Plans: America Is Shocked (and Experts Are Worried)

Start with the classic Flex-fuels and the development of advanced hydrogen internal combustion enginesCalifornia has been a pioneer in supporting the development of automobiles that use non-fossil fuels. But state emissions requirements have also been a major barrier to the use of hydrogen internal combustion engines statewide.

This has proven to be very unfavorable, with California’s anti-emissions stance hurting the prospects for hydrogen-powered internal combustion vehicles. The state’s regulations primarily address zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), which cover battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric cars. This has significantly hampered the adoption of hydrogen-powered internal combustion vehicles because they are not properly accounted for as zero-emission vehicles.

THE Present and future of the US hydrogen internal combustion engine marketTherefore, much depends on what California and the other 10 states that will implement said emissions standards intend to do. Due to the requirements specified by the state, hydrogen internal combustion engines may not be able to meet the requirements, implying the denial of the use of hydrogen internal combustion engines in the broader U.S. market.

Shell’s decision to stop operating seven hydrogen refueling stations that it initially installed in California, including in the San Francisco Bay Area, has hampered fueling options for hydrogen fuel cell car owners. Currently, there are only 55 hydrogen passenger refueling stations in the state.

It’s not as simple as it seems: California regulations could end it all

Additionally, Shell also abandoned plans to build 48 new passenger car hydrogen fueling stations in California, even though the company received significant government subsidies in calendar year 2020. The withdrawal is a dramatic shift from Shell’s previous focus on the U.S. hydrogen fueling sector, which began when Shell launched the first pilot station in 2005.

The outlook is bleaker for the market relatively conservative US market for small hydrogen fuel cell cars such as passenger cars made primarily by Japanese and South Korean auto giants Honda and Hyundai, respectively, due to a shortage of hydrogen stations located primarily in Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Several examples have appeared in the American automotive press describing the problems of hydrogen stations in California since last summer: supply interruptions, high hydrogen prices, irregular opening hours and long lines to refuel.
As of January 2024, the number of hydrogen fuel cell passenger cars sold and retired in California was still about 17,700.

California Has a Clear Vision for How to Go With Hydrogen: 4 Steps to Follow Japan’s Lead

To support the growth of hydrogen vehicles, California has enacted several laws and incentives:To support the growth of hydrogen vehicles, California has enacted several laws and incentives:

• Hydrogen Fuel Specifications:The State Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Measurement Standards, requires that hydrogen fuel used in internal combustion engines and fuel cells be SAE International J2719.
• Evaluation of a hydrogen refueling station:The law requires CARB to determine the need for new publicly accessible hydrogen fueling stations and report its decision to the CEC. The CEC then pays up to $20 million per year to set up the necessary stations.
• Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Promotion Plan:The State of California has adopted ambitious goals to promote the commercialization and deployment of zero-energy vehicles at least within a year. Its goals are the simultaneous introduction of:
  • 5 million zero-emission energy vehicles on the roads by 2025.
  • 5 million by 2030.
• Development of a policy on alternative fuels and vehicles:The CEC is to submit to the governor a report on integrated energy policy that is expected to recommend military actions to improve the deployment of ZEV structures.

Do you understand why California has a golden opportunity to take the lead? hydrogen engine? America is somewhat behind in the fuel cell vehicle revolution, even though we are among the leaders in producing this fuel in all its “colors” (some greener than others). This is a project that has a lot to prove to the rest of the world and for which, as you can imagine, Japan is watching us closely, followed closely by Toyota and Subaru.