https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1117927_hydrogen-supply-shortage-leaves-fuel-cell-cars-gasping-in-california
Hydrogen supply shortage leaves fuel cell cars gasping in California
(Updated)
Eric C. Evarts
July 27, 2018
The biggest challenge to driving a fuel-cell car is finding fuel.
Automakers who sell fuel-cell models—Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai for
now—have made progress in getting 33 hydrogen fueling stations built
around Los Angeles and San Francisco.
It's not helping drivers this week though. According to a photo tweeted
by user Paolo NonVTEC Acoba, the hydrogen pumps around LA are out of fuel.
A large sign on a hydrogen pump in LA, dated last Thursday and addressed
to Toyota Mirai owners, reads: "Be advised: Hydrogen delivery issues
everywhere. Don't take chances, top off frequently. Toyota hotline says
dealers know, will comp you for rental car."
Bleak situation for Hydrogen car owners in Southern California.
They're suffering their own micro energy crisis. pic.twitter.com/sWSxHahA1c
— Paulo NonVTEC Acoba (@ferio_252) July 25, 2018
It may be easy to advise drivers to top off frequently; not so easy to
do if all the surrounding stations are out of fuel.
"Toyota is aware that certain fuel-cell vehicle owners in the Los
Angeles area are currently experiencing refueling challenges because of
limited hydrogen supply at several local fueling stations. While the
station operator works to resolve this short-term issue, we are working
with our Mirai (fuel-cell car) customers to help identify alternative
fueling options, including as a temporary measure, opening our
commercial hydrogen fueling station at the Port of Long Beach...We
sincerely regret the current inconvenience for our customers," Toyota
said in a statement emailed to Green Car Reports.
It's not immediately clear from the statement whether Toyota is offering
rental cars for Mirai owners.
The problem has been traced to a problem with hydrogen supplies
delivered by chemical provider Air Products.
"We are actively working to resolve this unexpected disruption, which
has been caused by a contemporaneous series of unrelated issues at
several liquid hydrogen production and supply sites. We are addressing
the matter as rapidly as we can and are hopeful to have the situation
remedied and have restored regular hydrogen supply in the early days of
August. We regret any inconvenience that may have resulted.... We regret
any inconvenience fueling customers may be currently experiencing, and
reassure you we are focused on resolving the issue as soon as possible,"
Air Products spokesman Arthur George said in an email.
Anticipating a growing number of fuel-cell cars rolling out in coming
years, George added that the company is planning to expand its
distribution capacity going forward to ensure that it can get enough
hydrogen to the pumps.
Securing a a clean, affordable, and reliable, source of sufficient
hydrogen supplies has always been the biggest challenge for fuel cell
cars, and this shortage could give potential fuel-cell car buyers pause,
just as the cars—and pumps to fuel them—are becoming more widely available.
--
Author, award-winning book The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy
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