In 2004, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced plans for a “hydrogen freeway.” It referred to as for a brand new form of gasoline station, constructed to help a brand new form of electrical car. Vehicles powered by hydrogen gasoline cells might assist clear up the air and free the US from international oil — and California might prepared the ground.
That’s not what occurred. Twenty years later, the American auto business is shifting overwhelmingly to electrical autos… however they run on batteries, not hydrogen. The hydrogen freeway is suffering from shortages, excessive costs, and defective gear. Hundreds of drivers throughout the state are left questioning whether or not they guess on the flawed future.
We needed to search out out what occurred to California’s hydrogen dream.
So, we hit the street.
Our mission: a roughly 450-mile journey throughout California in a Toyota Mirai, the preferred hydrogen-powered automobile in the marketplace at this time. We deliberate to drive across the Bay Space, down by way of Central California, and into Los Angeles, visiting as many stations and assembly as many drivers as doable alongside the way in which.
Bay Space
Milpitas
We rented a Mirai on Turo — it was one among solely two accessible hydrogen-powered automobiles on the platform within the Bay Space. The automobile’s proprietor, Salman, instructed us he was involved about our itinerary.
Cupertino
Manideep and Rupesh have been the primary gasoline cell drivers we met. They’ve been driving their Mirai for about 4 months, and whereas they love the automobile, the gasoline scenario is carrying on them. Additionally they had some recommendation for our street journey.
Sunnyvale
All of the hydrogen pumps we noticed have been co-located at conventional fuel stations; the hydrogen distributor leases the area from station homeowners. At some stations, hydrogen pumps have been sandwiched between fuel pumps.
Palo Alto
One pump we visited in Palo Alto has been offline for 2 years. The pump’s operator, FirstElement Gas, instructed us that it took the pump over from a special hydrogen provider however that programs points have prevented it from bringing the station on-line.
South San Francisco
Earlier this 12 months, Shell closed almost all of its hydrogen stations throughout the state; there are not any energetic stations within the metropolis of San Francisco. It’s put extra pressure on the remaining Bay Space stations.
Oakland
One other Mirai driver we met, Rebecca, was dedicated to her automobile and extra optimistic about the way forward for hydrogen.
San Jose
We would have liked to prime off the tank earlier than leaving the Bay Space. The ultimate station we visited was on-line — however really getting gasoline was one other story.
Alongside the I-5 hall between San Francisco and Los Angeles, there are tons of of battery EV charging plugs — and one hydrogen pump. It’s at a spot referred to as Harris Ranch, a relaxation cease deep in California’s Central Valley. Since our Mirai wasn’t more likely to make all of it the way in which to SoCal on one tank, we stopped at Harris Ranch to refuel and see whether or not different hydrogen street trippers confirmed up.
Harris Ranch
Harris Ranch Resort
The Harris Ranch Resort is huge. Along with a Shell fuel station, Tesla Superchargers, and a hydrogen pump, it additionally boasts a Spanish hacienda-style resort, a number of eating places, and a present store with its personal butcher counter.
Tesla Supercharger
The Harris Ranch Supercharger station is reportedly the biggest financial institution of chargers ever constructed by Tesla. Whereas ready for hydrogen automobiles to point out up, we wandered over and requested Tesla drivers about life with their battery-electric automobiles.
James Candy Bonsai
James Kim has been promoting bonsai bushes for 23 years. His van is parked simply throughout the road from the exit to Harris Ranch, and he says he will get clients from throughout. His largest bushes are greater than 30 years previous.
Hydrogen Gas Station
After 4 hours of ready, one other Mirai lastly confirmed up. Billy Chen has made the journey between LA and San Francisco a number of instances — he’s the one driver we discovered who has.
Since September of 2023, 13 hydrogen stations within the Los Angeles space have been largely offline as a consequence of issues with a regional gasoline provider. The scarcity has been a significant headache for gasoline cell drivers in LA — and there are extra right here than wherever else within the state.
Los Angeles
San Fernando
The primary station we reached in Southern California had 4 gasoline pumps and was unaffected by the hydrogen scarcity. Unsurprisingly, it was the busiest station we visited.
Sherman Oaks
There’s a focus of hydrogen-powered automobiles right here in LA, however the ecosystem continues to be exceptionally area of interest. Within the first half of 2024, about 322 gasoline cell automobiles have been offered in California. At many stations, Mirai sightings have been uncommon.
Burbank
We heard an analogous story from numerous drivers: they have been contemplating a battery-electric automobile however have been talked right into a Mirai. Many regretted the selection.
Studio Metropolis
Like within the Bay Space, there are only a few stations in Southern California exterior of Larger Los Angeles. So, street journeys farther afield are dangerous.
Hollywood
As of publication, there isn’t a estimate for when the hydrogen provide scarcity in Southern California can be resolved, leaving stations like this one offline indefinitely. The scarcity will hit the one-year mark in September.
Even when California’s hydrogen freeway falls aside, gasoline cell know-how should still discover its area of interest in a decarbonizing world. The Verge’s Andrew Hawkins dove into the world of hydrogen-powered vehicles, boats, planes, and much more.
