The hydrogen is produced on-site from natural gas using CTTV proprietary technology, fuelling a small fleet of Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage demonstration vehicles powered by UTC fuel cells.
The station is a flagship for the US Department of Energy’s “Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Program”, which aims to bring automobile manufacturers and energy companies together to realise hydrogen energy use in a practical setting.
The station was created by ChevronTexaco’s Technology Ventures (CTTV) subsidiary, in conjunction with Hyundai Motors and UTC Fuel Cells.
The site is planned to be able to convert other renewable fuel sources (such as ethanol) in the future, said California congressman Gary Miller.
“The value of investing in hydrogen technologies is of paramount importance to California and to the United States," Miller said.
"Hydrogen offers many advantages and is abundant, but is used primarily now for industrial purposes. ChevronTexaco, Hyundai, and UTC Fuel Cells are developing a way for consumers and others to put this energy to use in the future.”
The roll-out of the California project was paired with the announcement by Florida governor Jeb Bush of the construction of another ChevronTexaco hydrogen energy station in Orlando.
Under Florida's proposed Hydrogen Energy Technologies Act, the state will set aside $US12.9 million for hydrogen research and testing, with another $US2.1 million earmarked for tax incentives to be granted to businesses investing in the field.
