What new investments have been made in California for hydrogen infrastructure this year?
From a single hydrogen fuel cell electric bus (FCEB), AC Transit now operates 58 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) with infrastructure including hydrogen fueling, electric charging, on-site fleet maintenance, and workforce development. Earlier this year, AC Transit was awarded $15 million through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards to acquire 25 FCEBs and replace traditional diesel engines.
Most recently, AC Transit was awarded $144 million from the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) to revamp its hydrogen fueling infrastructure, introduce all-new zero-emission buses (ZEBs), and implement a comprehensive workforce development plan by 2035. This funding is part of a larger $12.6 billion agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and ARCHES, aimed at establishing a clean and renewable hydrogen hub in California, and supports ARCHES’ 1,000-Bus Initiative, which aims to deploy over 1,000 FCEBs across 13 transit agencies over the next five to eight years. Spearheaded by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), this hydrogen bus initiative also includes the construction or upgrade of 19 refueling and maintenance facilities to support 1,000 FCEBs.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus Advancements in the Bay Area
This week, the San Joaquin Regional Transit District launched five new hydrogen FCEBs, each valued at $1.4 million, and supported by the FTA, California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), Senate Bill 1, and Measure K.
San Mateo County Transit also made headlines this week with its record order of 108 hydrogen FCEBs, the largest single FCEB order for New Flyer. The investment was made possible through combined funding from FTA, CARB HVIP, and local funds.
The Benefits of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses
All of these recent strategic moves are in response to California’s mandate for 100 percent ZEB fleets by 2040 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19 million metric tons from 2020 to 2050 – the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road.
Hydrogen FCEBs offer numerous advantages over traditional diesel vehicles, including:
- Cleaner Air: Emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles, such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter, are a major source of air pollution that can negatively impact public health and the environment. Hydrogen FCEBs emit none of these harmful substances. With zero emissions at the tailpipe, these buses will help reduce pollutants and improve air quality for residents.
- Operational Capacity and Efficiency: Hydrogen FCEBs solve challenges associated with traditional battery electric buses (BEBs), such as range limitations and extreme climates. Hydrogen FCEBs can offer uninterrupted service, even on challenging routes, making them a dependable choice for transit agencies operating in diverse geographic areas.
- Grid Resilience: BEB fleets need time to charge and require retrofitting existing transit centers to accommodate the increased electricity capacity required. In comparison, hydrogen FCEBs do not directly connect to the electric grid. Instead, they generate their electricity onboard by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell.
- Economic Growth: The transition to hydrogen technology can stimulate local economies by creating jobs related to the production and maintenance of these advanced vehicles.
Energy Security: Clean and renewable hydrogen can be produced domestically from resources like water, solar energy, wind, and biomass. With the transportation sector accounting for approximately 30% of total U.S. energy needs and 70% of U.S. petroleum consumption, hydrogen can decarbonize this hard-to-abate sector, reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels, and diversify our transportation energy options for a more resilient system.
