Cars

Vehicles

Toyota Mirai 2021

Hyundai NEXO

Honda CR-V e:FCEV

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

Chevrolet Colorado ZH2

Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell

Audi H-Tron Quattro

AC Transit buses

SunLine Transit buses

Incentives

FCEVs are eligible for a $4,500 California rebate*

Submit copies of supporting docs

Register for 30 months

Be an eligible applicant and purchase or lease an eligible vehicle.

Apply online prior to the exhaustion of available repaid funds.

Submit copies of supporting documents.

Own and register the vehicle in CA for 30 months.

FCEVs are eligible for a California HOV sticker

Click here for application form and information

*Income eligibility requirements may apply.

Prepaid fueling from the automaker

Hydrogen Fueling card

HOW IT WORKS

A fuel cell creates electricity from a chemical reaction, not combustion. You get awesome performance, an incredible ride and a carpool sticker that tells the world you're aiming for zero (emissions, that is.)

Fuel cells create electricity from reactants stored externally. A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen as the reactants. In its simplest form, a PEM fuel cell is two electrodes—the anode and the cathode—separated by a catalyst-coated membrane. Hydrogen from the vehicle’s storage tank enters one side of the fuel cell stack and air on the other side. The hydrogen is naturally attracted to the oxygen in the air. As the hydrogen molecule moves through the stack to get to the oxygen, the catalyst forces the hydrogen to separate into electron and proton.

The proton moves through the membrane and the electron moves to the anode. The electricity flows into a power module, which distributes electricity to the electric motor that turns the wheels of the car. The power module also distributes electricity to the air conditioning, sound system and other on-board devices.

At the cathode, the electron recombines with the proton, and the hydrogen joins with the oxygen to create the vehicle’s only tailpipe emission—water. Fuel cells produce electricity as long as fuel is supplied.

How It Works

Parts of a fuel cell (DOE)

Fuel cell manufacturing (NREL)

VEHICLE SAFETY

From bumper to bumper, FCEVs are designed with safety in mind. Engineering, equipment, and safety codes and standards are designed for hydrogen and fuel cells. What you see, though, is a great vehicle for you and your family.

FCEVs are as safe as any vehicle on the road. HFCP vehicle manufacturer members subject fuel cell electric vehicle models to extensive safety testing prior to releasing them on public roads. Current testing employs both destructive and non-destructive evaluations and occurs at the component, system, and vehicle level.

The on-board hydrogen storage tanks are extremely strong, carbon-fiber wrapped tanks. Similar to CNG tanks, hydrogen tanks are put through a battery of extreme tests, including bonfire, pressure cycling, impact, burst and penetration tests. The cylinders must meet strict manufacturer guidelines and are being tested to an international standard, the GTR 13. This will ultimately be the US DOT's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle safety standard.

Hydrogen is colorless, odorless and non-toxic. Other fuels either have odor (gasoline) or are odorized (natural gas) and leaks are detected by smell. Hydrogen is not odorized due in part to its small molecular weight and buoyancy, and because an odorant would contaminate hydrogen purity and affect vehicle performance. Leaks are detected by sensors.

HFCP does extensive training with fire fighters and other first responders in the communities where FCEVs and FCEBs are and will be deployed. The combination of vehicle design, safety systems and knowledgeable responders make FCEVs as safe as other vehicles on the road.

Hyundai NEXO Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle IIHS Crash Test

NHTSA Rear Impact Crash Test (Battelle)

National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Emergency Response Training Resource (DOE)

RANGE

2019 Gasoline four-door sedan – 444 miles

2019 FCEV four-door sedan – 360 miles

2019 BEV four-door sedan – 150 miles

*Number of miles from a full tank of fuel or charge (x/444 miles) | https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_sbs.shtml

You can go a long way on a small amount of hydrogen. Fuel cells are 2-3 times more efficient than combustion engines, and making hydrogen is an energy efficient chemical process. You'll drive as far as you drive today on about 1/3 as much fuel. It's better living through chemistry.

Energy efficiency is important, but not the whole picture. Fuel economy—“miles per gallon”—is a result of engine (or motor) efficiency, size, weight, road conditions and driving style. A bus and a car could both have a fuel cell that operates at 60% efficiency, but because the bus is heavier and stops and starts often, it will have a lower fuel economy than the car.

FuelEconomy.gov (EPA)