Hydrogen Fueling Station

BACKGROUND

In 2023, the City adopted the Pasadena Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) Rollout Plan, which greatly transforms Pasadena’s transit system by employing zero-emission vehicles and constructing infrastructure to fuel/charge and maintain the City’s zero-emission transit and paratransit fleets.

With advancements in production methods and technology improvements, hydrogen is becoming a viable player in a sustainable clean energy future; therefore, the City intends to procure primarily fuel cell electric buses driven on hydrogen fuel.

This project represents a major effort in meeting the City’s Climate Action Plan and promotes one of the City’s Guiding Principles that “Pasadena will be a city where people can circulate without cars.”

FUELING STATION

The City plans to install a fueling station by Fall 2027, to support up to 45 fuel cell electric vehicles by 2036.

The fueling station will primarily use the northern end of the currently vacant City-owned property at 159 S. Kinneloa Ave. It will feature screened, above-ground fuel storage and two dispensers. This facility will be dedicated solely to Pasadena Transit buses, with operations primarily occurring between 5:30 PM and 11:00 PM, and will not be accessible to the public.

Starting in 2027, it is anticipated that 17 buses will fuel at this site daily, increasing to 26 buses in 2030, and up to 45 buses by 2036. The hydrogen storage tank will be refilled as needed during business hours (anticipated 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM).