Linde North America Opens Retail Hydrogen Fueling Station

“Making the transition to vehicles with no tailpipe pollution, like hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, is an important part of California’s strategy to address climate change and to ensure our communities have clean, healthy air,” said commissioner Janea A. Scott of the California Energy Commission. Along with funding from the commission, Linde also received support from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to support zero-emission vehicles.

“This newly operational fueling station follows the one we opened at the Ramos Oil Co. in West Sacramento earlier this year,” said Mike Beckman, vice president of hydrogen fueling at Linde North America. “The San Juan Capistrano station is our first station in Southern California. We expect to open another five stations in California during the next year, starting in the San Francisco Bay area.”

It is anticipated that by the end of this year there will be a network of about 30 hydrogen fueling stations operating throughout California, with more coming the following year, providing a significant infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell cars. Conservative industry estimates call for more than 34,000 hydrogen-powered cars to be on the road in California by 2021, with a significant growth curve from there. “Increasing the use of zero- and near-zero-emission vehicles, including hydrogen-fuel models, is vital to achieving clean air in Southern California,” said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of SCAQMD. “This new station provides easy and convenient hydrogen fueling, which will help boost
consumer confidence in cleaner, pollution-free vehicles.”