Investigating Hydrogen Station Use and Station Access in California Using a Survey of Fuel Cell Vehicle Drivers

Research Team: Scott Hardman (lead), Adam Davis, and Gil Tal

UC Campus(es): UC Davis

Problem Statement: California has set a goal of reaching 100% zero emission vehicle (ZEV) sales by 2035. Most ZEV sales to date have been battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), while fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) make up only a small portion of ZEV sales. The market for FCEVs may be partially constrained because, unlike BEVs and PHEVs, they cannot use any existing infrastructure.

Project Description: This research investigates FCEV drivers use of hydrogen stations in California (of which there are 47 in operation) with the goal of informing the development of hydrogen infrastructure. Using results from a 2017 survey of 395 fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) owners and a 2018 survey of 328 FCEV owners, the research team investigated hydrogen station use. They investigated how far drivers refuel away from home, work, and the home-work commute; how many stations drivers use and which station is their preferred station; how frequently drivers use the hydrogen stations where they refuel; whether drivers refuel at the closest station and why some drivers travel further away to refuel; how hydrogen stations impact the decision to purchase a FCEV; how many California households have access to hydrogen stations based on assumptions from the survey of FCEV drivers and whether access differed by disadvantaged vs. non-disadvantaged census tracts.

Status: Completed

Budget: $78,603