Photo: Cal State L.A. Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility
Bought or planning to buy a fuel cell vehicle in California but don’t know how you’ll going to fill up the tanks? Officially, the Cal State L.A. Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility has become the first station in the state to legally sell the fuel.
Opened in May 2014, the fueling station at Cal State is the largest such facility on an university campus in the US and makes hydrogen on site using renewable sources like solar and wind power. Recently, it managed to pass strict regulations and can now legally sell the fuel to customers.
The facility managed to pass a rigorous state performance evaluation and can actually sell hydrogen by the kilogram to fuel cell drivers. Although they haven’t revealed exactly the method, their station sparked international interest. In the last six months, visitors from Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Germany and Scotland have come to take a tour.
“Our hydrogen station is playing a crucial role in helping situate California as a national leader in zero emission vehicles,” University President William A. Covino said. “The station also provides an ideal opportunity for Cal State L.A. students, faculty and staff to collaborate on cutting-edge research and technology initiatives with government agencies that will contribute to improving air quality in Los Angeles and beyond.”
It’s true that our planet is very rich in hydrogen, but you can’t find it in its pure form. Thus, extracting it from other substances in a cheap, green and sustainable way is key for fuel cell vehicles to thrive in the future.
Why is this big news?
Up until now, hydrogen for vehicles was offered for free because nobody found a way to accurately measure the amount of the substance that goes into someone’s tank, meaning they couldn’t ask for a certain amount of money in return.The facility managed to pass a rigorous state performance evaluation and can actually sell hydrogen by the kilogram to fuel cell drivers. Although they haven’t revealed exactly the method, their station sparked international interest. In the last six months, visitors from Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Germany and Scotland have come to take a tour.
“Our hydrogen station is playing a crucial role in helping situate California as a national leader in zero emission vehicles,” University President William A. Covino said. “The station also provides an ideal opportunity for Cal State L.A. students, faculty and staff to collaborate on cutting-edge research and technology initiatives with government agencies that will contribute to improving air quality in Los Angeles and beyond.”
It’s true that our planet is very rich in hydrogen, but you can’t find it in its pure form. Thus, extracting it from other substances in a cheap, green and sustainable way is key for fuel cell vehicles to thrive in the future.
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