Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will increasingly become part of the makeup of California's roads under tough new emission control targets being set.

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released a comprehensive summary of its proposed Advanced Clean Cars regulation package, which lays down strict new emissions standards for cars and light trucks from 2015 through 2025.

Under the scheme, vehicles sold in 2025 will reduce the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent.

"California once again leads the nation in setting the toughest standards that will deliver the cleanest vehicles," said ARB Chairman Mary D Nichols.

"This package assures the development of environmentally superior cars that will continue to deliver the performance, utility, and safety vehicle owners have come to expect."

Additionally, the package paves the way for widespread adoption of platinum particulate filters in diesel engines to reduce smog and soot-causing pollutants by 75 per cent.

In 2010, there were just 180 fuel cell vehicles on California's roads. That figure will rise to 53,000 by 2017, according to a survey of manufacturers.

Commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles will take place by 2015, notes the ARB, with a number of leading car makers including Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and GM planning to launch models.

Over 1.4 million zero-emission vehicles are expected to be produced cumulatively in California by 2025, with 500,000 of those vehicles being battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.

The ARB also set down its target for reducing emissions by 2050, which it says is being driven mainly by climate change.

"In order to meet our 2050 GHG [greenhouse gases] goal, the new vehicle fleet will need to be primarily composed of advanced technology vehicles such as electric and fuel cell vehicles by 2035 in order to have nearly an entire advanced technology fleet," the board said in a report accompanying the summary.

Though uptake of fuel cell technology is being hampered by cost, the ARB believes that the emissions targets will ensure adoption and drive down the price of hydrogen.

"As station utilisation improves due to increased consumer acceptance of FCV technology and confidence in fuel availability, the cost to produce hydrogen will decrease," the ARB argued.

Fuel providers will sell hydrogen at an "affordable price" and realise a return on the investment "within three to four years".

"Offering hydrogen fuel in convenient commercial settings is critical to the successful launch of zero emission vehicles, which will be the cornerstone of long term health based criteria pollutant and climate change emission reduction goals," the ARB concluded.

Source:

California Announces Groundbreaking Advanced Clean Car Rules (16/11/11) 

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