California Fuel Cell Partnership foresees 70k hydrogen powered trucks and 200 stations by 2035

The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) foresees 70,000 heavy-duty fuel cell trucks supported by 200 heavy-duty truck stations by 2035.

In its latest vision report, “Fuel Cell Electric Trucks: A Vision for Freight Movement in California and Beyond,” released today, CaFCP has emphasised the urgent need for policies to expedite private investment to achieve the interim step towards a larger goal of 100% zero-emission trucks by 2045.

The report states that fuel cell electric trucks are vital to achieving California’s ambitious energy, environmental, and transportation policy goals. No other existing zero-emission vehicles offer diesel truck operators the same one-to-one replacement utility for the most demanding freight movement applications.

Heavy-duty trucks represent only 2% of vehicles on California roads, though they release over 9% of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions, 32% of its nitrogen oxides, and 3% of its particulate emissions. The California Fuel Cell Partnership members have set a vision for reaching market sustainability by 2035.

Jerome Gregeois, Director Commercial Vehicles Development at Hyundai-Kia and chair of the CaFCP board of directors, said, “At Hyundai-Kia, we know that battery and fuel cell electric technologies are needed to meet the diverse needs of our customers.”

Joe Cappello, CEO of Iwatani Corporation of America and vice-chair of CaFCP, said, “The successful rollout of heavy-duty, zero-emission trucks requires the interplay of several key elements. In the case of FCETs, that includes synchronising vehicle rollout with hydrogen fuelling infrastructure, and renewable and zero-carbon hydrogen production.”

Bill Elrick, executive director of CaFCP, said, “California has set aggressive goals to achieve zero-emission fleets across vehicle categories, including cars, buses, and trucks.”