California has more hydrogen stations than any other region in the world. The oldest station opened in 2000 and continues to serve vehicles at CaFCP’s West Sacramento headquarters. The early hydrogen stations were built to provide fuel for the demonstration vehicles. Stations in the next wave were more accessible, designed to provide feedback to ensure retail stations will be reliable, safe and convenient for people to use.

As the vehicles move closer to commercial, companies are planning and building retail-like stations. Some of these stations make the fuel on site, others use fuel that delivered by truck or pipeline. Some stations offer only hydrogen, others offer hydrogen and other conventional or alternative fuels.

An important step in building hydrogen stations is completing the codes, standards and regulations that make it faster to build a station and enable retail sales of hydrogen as fuel. The California Fuel Cell Partnership takes an active role in supporting several standards development organizations by providing practical, real-world experience to ensure the standards and codes are realistic and relevant.