California invests in EV charging and hydrogen fuelling infrastructure
The 1.4 billion dollar investment is to accelerate the state’s EV charging and hydrogen refuelling goals, and will deploy infrastructure for light, medium, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles, “expanding the most extensive charging and hydrogen refueling network in the country.”
Under the new investment plan, California will spend the state funding over the next four years, with at least 50 per cent targeted to benefit priority populations, as the California Energy Commission writes. The funding is also part of the larger $48 billion funding pot from the California Climate Commitment, which includes more than $10 billion for ZEVs and ZEV infrastructure. The state has also received funds from the federal government.
This investment will be competitively granted to projects, including direct incentive and rebate programs for businesses, non-profit organizations, tribes, and public agencies. Once the investments are complete, nearly 17,000 light-duty chargers are to have been installed across the state, with California hoping to reach a total of 250,000 charging stations “in the next few years.” No specific numbers were mentioned for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, however, California has been steadily investing in the technology, for example, opening a California Hydrogen Hub over the summer with an investment from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
“Today’s approval of the investment plan reaffirms California’s commitment to funding zero-emission refueling infrastructure,” said CEC’s Lead Commissioner for Transportation Patty Monahan. “The plan prioritizes clean air benefits in low-income and disadvantaged communities that need it the most. There is no doubt – ZEVs are here to stay in the Golden State.”
In other federal funding, the DOE also invested in hydrogen projects in September, announcing nearly $62 million for 20 projects across 15 states to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of next-generation clean hydrogen technologies. In August, the U.S. federal government also announced funds worth over $500 million for charging infrastructure across thirty states. California also cracked down on business practices over the summer, with Toyota facing a class action lawsuit in California over anticompetitive business practices to keep out the competition and pushing FCEV drivers to get their hydrogen at First Element fuelling stations.
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