New Jersey's EV Mandate Faces Risks from California's Hydrogen Highway Experience
New Jersey's plan to ban gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 may encounter challenges similar to California's Hydrogen Highway, which stalled due to financial issues, technical difficulties, and limited infrastructure. Understanding these past failures is critical for the state's successful transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
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New Jersey's initiative to prohibit gasoline car sales by 2035 may replicate issues seen in California's Hydrogen Highway, which has struggled since its launch in 2004. Originally intended to establish 200 hydrogen stations by 2010, the project has resulted in fewer than 60 operational stations as of 2025, with many being unreliable.
The financial viability of hydrogen fueling infrastructure has diminished, with each station costing $2-3 million and fewer than 15,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) registered in California. As attention shifts to EVs, the prospects for hydrogen as a mainstream fuel appear bleak. The challenges faced by the Hydrogen Highway serve as a cautionary example for New Jersey, emphasizing the need for a robust charging network and realistic consumer expectations to ensure a successful transition to electric vehicles.
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