TY - JOUR
T1 - Strategies to accelerate the production and diffusion of fuel cell electric vehicles
T2 - Experiences from California
AU - Trencher, Gregory
N1 - Funding Information:
The author extends deep appreciation to the many organisations and individuals who kindly cooperated for interviews and provided data. Special thanks to Dr. Scott Hardman at the University of California (Davis), Keith Malone and Bill Elrick at the California Fuel Cell Partnership and Dr. Andrew Martinez at the California Air Resources Board for providing valuable information, interview contacts and feedback on the manuscript. This study was supported by Kakenhi funds (grant number 18H00919) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Funding Information:
A comprehensive mix of governance strategies has emerged in pursuit of these targets ( Governor of the State of California, 2013 ). These address supply, demand, infrastructure and institutional dimensions. At the heart of supply-side measures is the regulatory Zero Emission Vehicle Program (henceforth called the ‘ZEV program’). First brought into effect in 2005, 1 1 this forces a minimum and rising proportion of annual ZEV sales from automakers while incentivising production beyond this ( Collantes and Sperling, 2008; McConnell et al., 2019; Wesseling et al., 2014 ). Originally focused on light-duty vehicles, policymakers are currently drafting a heavy-duty version for the truck sector (i.e. the Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation). Next are measures to expedite the rollout of charging stations and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. These include public subsidies, planning assistance and market-based instruments (e.g. credits in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to incentivise charging installations and high capacity refuelling stations). Demand creation measures target individual consumers and fleets. Core strategies include financial rebates on vehicle purchases or decals permitting usage of high-occupancy vehicle lanes on freeways. Finally, institutional measures include coordination efforts by the State and industry to share knowledge, develop common codes and standards for ZEV infrastructure and vehicles, and formulate policy in light of technological progress. Generous state funds underpin these measures. The Clean Transportation Program (financed by vehicle registrations etc.) provides $100 million of annual subsides for charging/refuelling infrastructure, clean fuel production and vehicle deployment ( CEC, 2019 ). Meanwhile, the California Climate Investments scheme annually directs tens of millions of dollars collected via the California Cap-and-Trade to fund heavy-duty ZEV demonstrations, vehicle rebates and so forth. While these various ZEV deployment measures are technology agnostic, the State continues to support hydrogen as a key electrification technology. This reflects recognition of short refuelling times, longer driving ranges and the potential to electrify larger platforms than BEVs ( CaFCP, 2012; CEC, 2019 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author
PY - 2020/11
Y1 - 2020/11
N2 - Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) can play a key role in accelerating the electrification of road transport. Specifically, they offer longer driving ranges and shorter refuelling times relative to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) while reducing needs for space-intensive public charging infrastructure. Although the maturity and market penetration of hydrogen is currently trailing batteries, transport planners in several countries are looking to both technologies to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution. Home to the world's largest on-road fleet of FCEVs, California is one such jurisdiction. Experiences in California provide an ideal opportunity to address a gap in literature whereby barriers to FCEV diffusion are well understood, but knowledge on actual strategies to overcome these has lacked. This study thus examines governance strategies in California to accelerate the production and diffusion of FCEVs, key outcomes, lessons learned and unresolved challenges. Evidence is sourced from 19 expert interviews and an examination of diverse documents. Strategies are examined from four perspectives: (i) supply-side (i.e. stimulation of vehicle production), (ii) infrastructure (i.e. construction of refuelling stations and hydrogen production), (iii) demand-side (i.e. stimulation of vehicle adoption) and (iv) institutional (i.e. cross-cutting measures to facilitate collaboration, innovation and cost-reduction). Findings reveal a comprehensive mix of stringent regulation, market and consumer incentives, and public–private collaboration. However, significant challenges remain for spurring the development of fuel cell transport in line with initial ambitions. Highlighting these provides important cues for public policy to accelerate the deployment of FCEVs and hydrogen in California and elsewhere.
AB - Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) can play a key role in accelerating the electrification of road transport. Specifically, they offer longer driving ranges and shorter refuelling times relative to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) while reducing needs for space-intensive public charging infrastructure. Although the maturity and market penetration of hydrogen is currently trailing batteries, transport planners in several countries are looking to both technologies to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution. Home to the world's largest on-road fleet of FCEVs, California is one such jurisdiction. Experiences in California provide an ideal opportunity to address a gap in literature whereby barriers to FCEV diffusion are well understood, but knowledge on actual strategies to overcome these has lacked. This study thus examines governance strategies in California to accelerate the production and diffusion of FCEVs, key outcomes, lessons learned and unresolved challenges. Evidence is sourced from 19 expert interviews and an examination of diverse documents. Strategies are examined from four perspectives: (i) supply-side (i.e. stimulation of vehicle production), (ii) infrastructure (i.e. construction of refuelling stations and hydrogen production), (iii) demand-side (i.e. stimulation of vehicle adoption) and (iv) institutional (i.e. cross-cutting measures to facilitate collaboration, innovation and cost-reduction). Findings reveal a comprehensive mix of stringent regulation, market and consumer incentives, and public–private collaboration. However, significant challenges remain for spurring the development of fuel cell transport in line with initial ambitions. Highlighting these provides important cues for public policy to accelerate the deployment of FCEVs and hydrogen in California and elsewhere.
KW - Barriers
KW - Diffusion
KW - Electric mobility transition
KW - Fuel cell electric vehicles
KW - Hydrogen
KW - Policy
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U2 - 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.09.008
DO - 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.09.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85091208398
VL - 6
SP - 2503
EP - 2519
JO - Energy Reports
JF - Energy Reports
SN - 2352-4847
ER -