Honda and Toyota are offering more details on seven new hydrogen fueling stations that will be built in northern California with California Energy Commission funding.
Last month, the commission awarded a grant of $16,362,500 to Equilon Enterprises LLC, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Co., to build the stations in collaboration with Honda and Toyota, which are also providing financial support. The facilities are coming to seven existing Shell-branded retail stations across northern California: three in San Francisco and one in each of Berkeley, Sacramento, Citrus Heights and Walnut Creek.
The commission awarded the grant through its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, which invests up to $100 million every year to support innovations in transportation and fuel technologies to help California meet its energy, clean air and climate change goals.
“We are grateful to the California Energy Commission for grant funding that will enable customers to choose hydrogen fuel alongside gasoline and diesel,” says Oliver Bishop, hydrogen general manager for Shell Exploration and Production Co. “We will apply our worldwide experience of more than 100 years in marketing transportation fuels to the success of these hydrogen refueling stations. We are also grateful for the contributions of Honda, Toyota and Anglo American Platinum to these seven stations.”
“The California Energy Commission is pleased to support the adoption of zero-emission fuel cell electric cars through the expansion of California’s network of hydrogen refueling stations,” adds Energy Commissioner Janea A. Scott. “The commission looks forward to continuing its work with private and public partners to help transform California’s transportation system to help the state achieve its greenhouse-gas emissions reduction goals, improve air quality and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
Once operational, the seven stations covered by the grant will bring the number of hydrogen refueling stations Shell is operating in California to nine. It currently operates facilities in Newport Beach and Torrance.
