The Norwegian company blamed for California’s hydrogen car woes

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🗞️ Driving the news: California’s hydrogen fueling network faces a major crisis, with a civil fraud case targeting Norwegian company Nel ASA for allegedly selling faulty hydrogen fueling stations
• Core claims by Iwatani Corporation accuse Nel of knowingly delivering untested, unreliable technology, now abandoned or shut down across the state
• The legal battle underscores broader challenges for hydrogen vehicle adoption in California.

🔭 The context: In 2019, California was scaling hydrogen refueling infrastructure, supported by companies like Toyota, Shell, and Chevron
• Nel’s stations, promoted as operational, have since failed, forcing Shell and others to halt plans for further expansion
• With frequent downtime and unsafe conditions, California's hydrogen car infrastructure has nearly collapsed, leaving many hydrogen vehicle owners stranded

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Hydrogen is considered a key solution for decarbonizing transportation, but California’s experience reveals the high risks of deploying immature technologies
• These setbacks could undermine public and corporate trust in hydrogen as a viable clean energy alternative
• Proper oversight and robust technological development are critical for ensuring sustainable energy transitions

⏭️ What's next: The trial against Nel is scheduled for October 2026, potentially shaping the future of hydrogen infrastructure accountability.
• California is pivoting to hydrogen stations for heavy-duty vehicles, aiming for a stronger supply chain that might eventually revive the passenger car market
• Meanwhile, private-sector players like FirstElement Fuel are positioning themselves to fill the infrastructure gap

💬 One quote: “I think it’s fair to say that the technology that was installed was immature, and that the quality was not good enough,” – Håkon Volldal, CEO of Nel ASA

📈 One stat: Of California’s 55 hydrogen fueling stations, none supplied by Nel are currently operational, while Shell has canceled plans for 48 additional stations

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