Fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas reduce greenhouse gasA gas in Earth's atmosphere that traps heat and can contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide and methane are two GHGs. emissions by roughly 50%. When hydrogen comes from clean energy, like solar electrolysis or biomass, the GHGs are zero. FCVs are a crucial component in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and meeting California’s other goals for improving air quality and ending our dependence on petroleum.
Transportation accounts for 38% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions and 96% of the vehicles in the state use petroleum-based fuels. Governor Schwarzenegger’s Executive Order established a first-of-its-kind policy to reduce the greenhouse gas impact from California's use of transportation fuels through a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) for transportation fuels sold in California.
The Executive Order will help California meet the regulations set forth in Assembly Bill 32, which calls for returning emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 by substantially reducing greenhouse gases from utilities, industry, agriculture and others. The first step is to reduce the carbon intensityA measure of the amount of carbon contained in various energy forms. (units of carbon emitted per unit of energy) of California's passenger vehicle fuels by at least 10%. To reach the 1990 levels, however, we need to shift to low carbon fuels such as hydrogen.
The 2050 goal is to reduce GHGs by 80% below 1990 levels. This calls for a profound change in energy supply and other parts of the economy. It will require technological innovation; the process of inventing new products and approaches, bringing them to market and enabling them to become widely used. Fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel are well on the way to providing that innovation.
Fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas reduce greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 50%. When hydrogen comes from clean energy, like solar electrolysis or biomass, the GHGs are zero. FCVs are a crucial component in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and meeting California’s other goals for improving air quality and ending our dependence on petroleum.
