California’s H<sub>2</sub> vehicle market swayed by countervailing forces
New state funding should help fuel-cell vehicles reduce the huge sales gap with battery electric equivalents—if national tax credits are reinstated
The California government is planning to provide substantially greater funding to increase the sale of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and other zero-emission road vehicles in the state, as well as to boost construction of hydrogen fuelling stations and charging infrastructure. In the second week of January, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a $4.5bn coronavirus stimulus package within California’s 2021-22 budget—the fiscal year begins on 1 July—including $1.5bn earmarked for the state’s road transport transition. This proposed spending supports efforts to implement the state’s ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger cars and trucks as of 2035, and medium and heav
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