ChatGPT & DALL-E generated panoramic image of a hydrogen refueling station that is out of service and being worked on.
“We can confirm that Shell has discontinued its plan to build and operate additional light-duty vehicle fueling stations in California,” a company spokesperson tells. “We will continue to invest in hydrogen in a disciplined manner, with a focus on hard-to-abate sectors such as industry and heavy duty transport and emphasis on key regions where we have competitive advantage and strong adjacencies with our existing business.
The decision to abandon the California market for light duty hydrogen fueled vehicles could also reflect a lack of demand. While California was one of the few markets for hydrogen powered vehicles to grow this year, only 3,143 were registered in 2023, which was less than 1% of battery electric cars sold in the same period, according to the most recent figures from the California Energy Commission.