California Hydrogen Business Council's (CHBC) fuel cell bus workshop at SunLine Transit Agency in Palm Desert, CA from April 7-8, the message was clear: despite infrastructure challenges and policy uncertainty, fuel cell buses. they prove their value where it matters most – in real-world operations.
The event brought together representatives from 60 industry players including transit companies such as Foothill Transit, Riverside Transit Agency, and Santa Cruz Metro – as well as policy makers and technology providers to bridge the gap between pilot projects and full, commercial fleet deployment.
Delivering a 360-degree view of the hydrogen transit ecosystem, the workshop included technical in-depth, expert panels and round tables, as well as dynamic industry discussions – following a kick-off that provided a high level of the country's industry highlighting the important role of fuel cell buses in the most used fleets.
Ballard's team of experts presented the latest advances in fuel cell technology focused on increased uptime, durability and ease of maintenance; while other CHBC members demonstrated new hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) with the ability to scale as fleets grow and expand.
A key session at the event addressed the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a fuel cell bus, where attendees analyzed data from real-world applications showing that increased carbon credits and lower costs of green hydrogen are contributing to a narrowing of the diesel gap. Transportation managers also participated in a fleet transition planning session using Ballard's proprietary modeling tools to simulate the deployment of large fuel cell buses. 
Deployment challenges
Among the most critical issues examined during the event, participants emphasized the complexity and time-consuming nature of HRS deployment as a major problem – with the lack of coordination between bus delivery times and HRS approval flagged by several agencies as a major operational risk.
Affordability remains a challenge for fuel buses – with unit costs combined with rising hydrogen fuel prices making procurement difficult compared to other technologies such as battery electrics.
Policy uncertainty was also high on the agenda as the federal administration's halted zero-emission bus (ZEB) related FTA grant awards, and cancellations. or “take a break” of the ARCHES hydrogen hub has a direct impact on Californian operators. However, the state's Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) law continues to mandate ZEB, and agencies such as the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) maintain and strengthen funding programs.
Reasons to be optimistic
Underscoring California's commitment to fuel cell technology for transportation, CARB certified 437 hydrogen-powered buses in operation or on order by the end of 2024, with 45 agencies actively considering switching to fuel cells in their fleets.
Hydrogen infrastructure is also a maturing ecosystem, with suppliers such as Bosch, GenH2, and Hatch in the process of building comprehensive transport refueling solutions, with liquid hydrogen emerging as the preferred method to cater for large depot sizes.
And despite the ongoing storms, the ICT law provides a structural demand driver that doesn't depend on federal support, and as a result the California fuel bus market continues to thrive – evidenced by the encouraging number of units already on the road or set to be by the end of the year.
Throughout the two days the CHBC workshop emphasized the importance of industry and public sector collaboration when it comes to achieving widespread adoption of fuel buses. By combining proven fuel cell technology with a strategic infrastructure plan, the transportation industry continues its path toward zero emissions.
The event concluded by presenting a clear roadmap for transport companies to achieve not only emissions reductions, but a sustainable and profitable bottom line towards 2030.