WASHINGTON – The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with H2USA to release a series of tools meant to aid efforts to create a national infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by providing basic cost estimates for those who are considering building FCEV fueling stations. For more background on the market for hydrogen fuel, read the NACS Magazine cover story, “Fuel for Thought.”

One of the new tools – the Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model (HRSAM) – was developed by Argonne National Laboratory, and will help to assess the impact of station design on economics, incorporating a station's capital and operating cost based on key design variables such as station capacity and mode of hydrogen delivery. 

Also included in the series is a Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which provides financial analysis, including cash flow and return on investments, for hydrogen stations based on factors such as station capital cost, operating cost and financing mechanisms.

The DOE/H2USA collaboration also produced a Reference Station Design Report that provides details about engineering models and economic analyses of five hydrogen fueling station templates that DOE expects to meet near-term market needs, as well as a Hydrogen Contaminant Detection Report that identifies primary requirements for implementing a hydrogen detection device at a station.

H2USA is a public-private collaboration to promote the commercial introduction and widespread adoption of hydrogen fueled fuel cell electric vehicles across America. For more information, visit h2usa.org.