CaFCP released the first refinement to our 2009 action plan. The Progress and Next Steps report highlights the progress made in the past year and specifically focuses on what we need to do in the next two years to stay on track toward a commercial launch.

In February 2009, CaFCP released the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle and Station Deployment Plan: A Strategy for Meeting the Challenge Ahead.  The “action plan” is based on real-world learning and data, and details the major investments and actions needed to transition to a commercial market for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen. The action plan has three primary areas of focus:

• Build retail hydrogen stations in the communities where passenger fuel cell vehicles will first be introduced.
• Support the expanding fuel cell bus program.
• Develop and implement the codes, standards, regulations and permitting processes that will enable the retail sale of hydrogen as fuel and adopt best-available fueling technology.

The future of transportation requires multiple fuel technology paths that match technical capabilities to customer needs and expectations. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are one of the few vehicle technologies that can meet the needs of a broad consumer market while significantly reducing greenhouse gasA gas in Earth's atmosphere that traps heat and can contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide and methane are two GHGs. emissions and local air pollutants and diversifying our energy sources. Hydrogen is a domestically produced low-carbon fuel and has demonstrated the ability to be a zero-carbon fuel when produced from renewable resources.

California is a world leader in fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen infrastructure development and demonstration. The state is positioned to continue that leadership by successfully initiating the commercial launch of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This will occur through a coordinated and transparent partnership between industry and government, allowing industry to learn and develop self-sustaining business practices that will reduce and ultimately eliminate the need for future public funding support. Automakers, station providers and funders must work closely to make smart investments with limited resources, meet customer fueling needs and build toward a successful commercial launch in 2015.

Commercializing fuel cell vehicles is a dynamic process. Actions and priorities will change as deployment proceeds, requiring refinements and adjustments as progress is made. The action plan identifies the need for ongoing review to adapt and refine strategies. This report presents the first such refinement by reporting progress and identifying immediate next steps required in 2010 and 2011.

Click to read the full CaFCP Action Plan: Progress and Next Steps