California-based Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) has welcomed its first hydrogen fuel cell bus - part of an 11-bus order - into its fleet, marking a significant milestone in the agency's shift to zero-emission rider service, and supporting California's ambitious goals for reduced emissions and a cleaner future in state-wide transit.
By adding New Flyer’s Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ fuel cell bus - powered by Ballard - to its fleet, HTA underscores its commitment to clean transport, as well as the growing momentum for fuel cell technology as a high‑performance solution for demanding transit applications.
After three years of development, HTA offers the first rual hydrogen-powered service in the the U.S., due to start daily service on two flagship routes: the Trinidad–Scotia shuttle and the new North Coast Express, covering approximately 150 miles from Eureka to Ukiah.
Supported by the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, the Ballard-powered bus has a 400-mile operational range, with refueling completed in as little as 12 minutes. Following successful integration of the bus into its fleet, HTA is aiming to procure a further 11 zero-emission units that will eventually replace the agency’s entire fleet on the Redwood Transit system.
The bus is currently serviced by a temporary filling station, but HTA, with the help of project partners that include Air Products, plans to design and install a permanent hydrogen refueling station (HRS) to provide hydrogen fuel for the bus fleet.
The HRS will include a public dispenser to support light- and medium-duty vehicles, ranging from cars to delivery vans, laying the groundwork for a broader hydrogen fueling network along California’s North Coast and advancing the state’s target of 200 HRS by 2026.
HTA's hydrogen-powered bus integrates Ballard's FCmove-HD+ 100kW fuel cell engine, which delivers proven performance and reliability, and the compact, durable, easy-to-install configuration provides an advanced decarbonized solution for public transit mobility.
The engine's robust proton-exchange membrane (PEM) technology delivers the power, range, and efficiency required for Humboldt's challenging transit routes, and the fuel cell's proven stack lifetime ensures resilience and dependability through to the product's end-of-life.