Californians sue Toyota over hydrogen refueling issues in 2023

In July 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against Toyota by dozens of Californians who claim they were misled about the state's hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The plaintiffs argue that Toyota's salespeople did not adequately inform them about the significant delays in the development of hydrogen stations, with only 54 operational out of the promised 200 by 2025. This situation has left many owners of fuel cell vehicles frustrated and stranded due to the lack of accessible refueling options. The California Energy Commission, responsible for funding hydrogen stations, has faced criticism for not maintaining the necessary funding levels to support the infrastructure's growth. Despite the state's ambitious climate goals, including a target for over 20% of new cars sold to be fuel cell vehicles by 2045, the current state of the hydrogen refueling network is inadequate. In the first half of 2023, only 298 fuel cell cars were sold, a stark contrast to the 1,765 sold in the same period the previous year. The lawsuit highlights broader concerns regarding the reliability of the hydrogen refueling system, which is crucial for the success of fuel cell vehicles. Other automakers, such as Hyundai, have also expressed their worries about the infrastructure, indicating that the issue affects the entire market for hydrogen vehicles. The California Air Resources Board has projected a significant increase in fuel cell vehicle sales, but the current infrastructure challenges threaten these projections. As the state continues to invest in hydrogen technology, the lack of a robust refueling network poses a significant barrier to achieving its carbon neutrality goals by 2045. The situation underscores the need for better oversight and collaboration between automakers and government agencies to ensure the successful rollout of hydrogen stations in California.