Air Products announced it intends to build a network of permanent, commercial-scale, multi-modal H₂ refueling stations stretching from Northern California to Southern California. Eric Guter, Air Products’ Vice President, H₂ for Mobility, made the announcement during his keynote address at the California H₂ Convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“Building a robust H₂ economy infrastructure is critical to the success of the energy transition and meeting our climate change goals,” said Guter. “California is a leader in the energy transition and a first-mover in making zero-emission, heavy-duty transportation in the U.S. a reality. As the world’s largest supplier of H₂, Air Products has committed to investing $15 B by 2027 in clean energy megaprojects around the world. Working together, energy companies, vehicle manufacturers and governments can accelerate the energy transition and generate a cleaner future for all.”

The permanent, multi-modal H₂ refueling stations will be equipped to serve heavy-duty vehicles, such as commercial and municipal trucks and buses, as well light-duty H₂ fuel cell vehicles.

“Each state-of-the-art, high-capacity, high-reliability station will be able to fuel up to 200 heavy-duty trucks or 2,000 cars per day,” said Alison Hawkins, Air Products’ General Manager – H₂ for Mobility, Americas. “These stations will be a key driver to help California on its road to a zero-emissions transportation future.”

An innovator in H₂ for transportation, Air Products’ California pipeline network supplied H₂ to the nation’s first pipeline-fed H₂ fueling station in Torrance, California in 2011. Currently, Air Products operates six H₂ refueling stations in Southern California. The new stations will deliver enhanced fueling technology capability, including significantly higher capacity, multiple fueling dispensers and service for both heavy- and light-duty vehicles.

“H₂ will play a key role in meeting California's clean energy and climate change goals, and it will pave the way for zero emissions transportation throughout the state. Air Products' investment in a statewide network of multi-modal H₂ refueling stations marks a significant milestone for California and its development as a global hub for clean H₂," said California State Senator Bob Archuleta, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on H₂ Energy.

Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, Director of GO-Biz and founding ARCHES Board Member, said, “Infrastructure is the key to unlocking our nation’s H₂ future, and we commend Air Products for committing to build a network of stations and supply them with clean H₂ in California as part of our H₂ hub ecosystem. These stations are steps on the path to our end goal – eliminating the need for diesel in our transportation sector.”