Shell, Toyota and Honda to Expand California Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure

December 11, 2020 by Toyota

California Energy Commission awards $7.3 million for the first eight of 51 Shell hydrogen refueling stations proposed through a $40.5 million, multi-year program

On December 9, 2020, the California Energy Commission (CEC) awarded $7.3 million to Equilon Enterprises LLC (d/b/a Shell Oil Products US), hereafter referred to as Shell Hydrogen, to deliver the first eight of 51 proposed Shell hydrogen refueling stations. This funding is part of a multi-year program supported by a Notice of Proposed Award of $40.5 million from the CEC earlier this year. Further, Toyota and Honda have agreed to continue their strong support for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) sales in California. Future project funding, including the remaining amount within the Notice of Proposed Award, is subject to annual approval from both the California state budget and allocations from the CEC.

If successful in securing full funding, Shell Hydrogen will install hydrogen refueling equipment at a total of 48 existing Shell retail stations, upgrade two current Shell Hydrogen stations and add light-duty fueling dispensers and positions at one existing Shell Hydrogen heavy-duty truck station.

The new hydrogen refueling stations join nine Shell hydrogen locations in the state, seven of which originated through a previous CEC award in 2017. The expanded network helps expedite and increase the number of hydrogen refueling stations in support of growing the market for hydrogen fuel cell technology.

To support the growth of hydrogen mobility, infrastructure is critical to ensuring the customer has a safe, convenient, reliable, high quality, low cost fueling experience. 'Innovations in California policy, including infrastructure capacity crediting in the Low Carbon Fuels Standard and a multi-year structure in grant funding, enable us to deliver this station development program and decarbonize hydrogen to near-zero or below,' said Oliver Bishop, general manager for Shell Hydrogen. 'I'd like to thank the CEC for giving Shell Hydrogen the opportunity to support California's environmental and energy policy goals.'

'Fuel cell vehicles are an important part of our long-term efforts to reduce carbon emissions,' said Steven Center, vice president of Auto Sales, American Honda. 'As a leader in the development of zero-emission vehicles, we fully support Shell Hydrogen and their significant expansion of the hydrogen refueling network to speed the adoption of lower carbon transportation options.'

Honda is committed to reducing its total global company CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2050, compared to the year 2020. Toward that goal, two-thirds of Honda's global automobile sales by 2030 will be comprised of electrified vehicles, including fuel cell electric vehicles. With a 360-mile U.S. Environmental Protection Agency driving range rating, the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell has one of the longest ranges of any zero-emission light-duty vehicle in America and can be refueled in approximately three to five minutes.

Toyota's Doug Murtha, group vice president, Corporate Strategy and Planning, Toyota Motor North America, added 'Toyota has been developing fuel cell electric vehicles for nearly three decades, so we're excited to participate with Shell in this rapid expansion of next generation hydrogen fueling infrastructure. The size and scale of this project align perfectly with the launch of our second-generation 2021 Mirai which will allow the fuel cell vehicle market to grow significantly over the next several years.'