Hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of mass transit and public transportation but require the right infrastructure to be put in place. Considering the supply options in North America and Europe, Ballard's hydrogen refueling paper offers a guide to sourcing an appropriate infrastructure.
Major automakers have intentions for the majority of cars sold by 2030 to be electrified in some way - including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. To date, a roadblock in major deployments has been the lack of widespread hydrogen fueling infrastructure to serve passenger vehicle customers.
This is changing rapidly as federal and regional governments globally are working collaboratively with industry to develop the required regulations, infrastructure and training required to produce and supply hydrogen for commercial and private fleets.
Mass transit applications have the potential to break down these deployment barriers, and fuel cell buses deployments are expanding rapidly at transit agencies around the world.
With centralized filling and increasing fleet sizes, the deployment of fuel cell buses is providing an ideal opportunity to reduce the cost of hydrogen infrastructure and fuel. However, the success of these deployments will depend on a safe, convenient, and clean hydrogen generation and delivery infrastructure.
Fueling infrastructure - North America Fueling infrastructure - Europe
The Hydrogen Fueling papers provide an overview of the hydrogen supply options available to transit agencies and deliver a guide in sourcing the appropriate fueling infrastructure and hydrogen supply for their fuel cell bus fleet in Europe and North America.