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The South Coast Air Quality Management District on Wednesday opened an upgraded public hydrogen fueling station at its Diamond Bar headquarters, capable of fueling a vehicle in only three minutes.

“Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, along with other zero- and near-zero- emission vehicles, remain a critical component in helping to achieve our clean air goals,” said SCAQMD Chairman William A. Burke. “This upgraded fueling station will help provide a reliable fuel supply for the wave of new hydrogen vehicles being introduced.”

The station, which replaces one originally installed at SCAQMD headquarters in 2004, is one of only a few in California that allows for both low- and high-pressure hydrogen refueling.

The station has a 100 kilogram daily capacity, which will allow for about 20 to 25 cars a day to be fueled. It is the first station certified to provide a three-minute fast fill, and the first in the Southland to accept payment by credit card, according to the SCAQMD.

Step-by-step instructions on how to properly operate the hydrogen fueling pump are provided on site.

Funding comes from a $17 million grant from the California Energy Commission for the installation of six hydrogen fueling stations as well as upgrading existing fueling sites at SCAQMD and UC Irvine. An additional $1 million for the eight stations was provided by SCAQMD’s Clean Fuels fund.

The six new stations — expected to be completed within the next 12 months — will be located in West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Beverly Hills and a second Irvine location.

“California is committed to zero-emission vehicles and an infrastructure that will help build consumer confidence in them,” said Janea A. Scott, the state’s energy commissioner. “This hydrogen station is number 11 in an initial network of 100 stations that will lay the foundation for fuel- cell electric vehicles and begin enabling drivers in the South Coast region to seriously consider buying one of the new hydrogen electric vehicles being released.”

 

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