Hydrogen is produced and transported across the US and around the world every day
Hydrogen is the smallest element, with one proton and one electron. It has an average atomic weight of 1.0079 amu, making it the lightest element, and a density of 0.08988 g/L, making it less dense than air. Because of these properties, hydrogen is lighter than air and is impossible to pool or puddle in one place.
Hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air
At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a nontoxic, nonmetallic, odorless, tasteless, and colorless. It will won't pool or puddle, pollute groundwater, ruin beaches or harm wildlife. It won't drip on your shoes, make your hands smell or make the asphalt slippery.
Hydrogen is non-toxic, non-polluting and environmentally benign
The average price of hydrogen for a light-duty fuel cell electric vehicle (passenger car) in California is $16.51 per kilogram, according to the 2019 Joint Agency Report (p17). As more retail stations open and have higher utilization, the price per kilogram of hydrogen is projected to drop to ranges more competitive with the prices of gasoline. For example, in late 2019, the True Zero Oakland hydrogen station opened with three times the capacity of previous stations. It offers hydrogen at $13.11 per kilogram (tax included) due, in part, to the larger volume and other factors.
In addition, drivers of fuel cell electric cars are offered free fuel by automakers for three years, to bridge the time it takes the market to become more competitive with other fuel options.
Reports, studies, and white papers from the Hydrogen Council, NREL and Shell, among others, all point to reductions in the price of fuel and fueling infrastructure for various reasons (scaling up, standardization, etc.).
Hydrogen Council: Path to Hydrogen Competitiveness: A Cost Perspective
Shell: Hydrogen Refueling Station Cost Reduction Roadmap
Shell: Towards Competitive Refueling Infrastructure
NREL: Manufacturing competitiveness analysis for hydrogen refueling stations
BloombergNEF: Hydrogen Economy Outlook Key Messages
Please note: The information above pertains to hydrogen stations serving light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (passenger cars) and, therefore, does not reflect the cost or price of hydrogen for buses, trucks or any other fuel cell electric vehicle category.
Automakers include three years of hydrogen fuel with the sale or lease of a vehicle
Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, especially in stars and gas giant planets. On Earth, hydrogen is a diatomic molecule (consists of two atoms) and it has a propensity to form covalent bonds with most elements. In other words, it hates to be by itself and will quickly bond with another molecule.
Outside of its container, hydrogen rapidly dissipates
Hydrogen production is a chemical reaction; using heat and catalysts to release hydrogen molecules from natural gas or biogas, or using solar or wind energy to electrolyze water.
The California mix of hydrogen, which requires 33% renewables, also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more on the Well to Wheels page.
Zero air pollutants and reduced greenhouse gases
The wind blows and the sun shines even when power demand is low. Hydrogen is one way to store excess power. This short video from ITM Power briefly overviews a complex topic.
Excess solar and wind energy that would normally be lost can be stored as hydrogen fuel
Because hydrogen can be made from so many sources, every region can use its own local resources to make fuel—vital in the quest for energy security.
Every region of the world can create its hydrogen
The Energy Information Agency reported that hydrogen production capacity at U.S. oil refineries is more than 3 million cubic feet a day. Enough hydrogen is produced now to power 20-30 million cars.
Approximately 10-11 million metric tons of hydrogen are produced in the US each year
Hydrogen is part of the products that you use every day—from gasoline to toothpaste.