Historic journey of hydrogen-fueled vehicles transverses Texas
In the heart of July 2025, a significant milestone was reached as a caravan of three hydrogen-powered vehicles embarked on a journey from Austin to Houston. This event, organised by students from the University of Texas in Austin, marked a crucial step in the development of hydrogen fuel technology in Texas.
As of now, Texas does not have any publicly accessible hydrogen fueling stations. The United States' 52 publicly accessible hydrogen stations are primarily located in California (50), with one each in Hawaii and Washington, leaving Texas without any such facilities [4]. However, the Lone Star State is actively working on hydrogen production and infrastructure projects, focusing on blue and green hydrogen for industrial-scale and power-generation purposes.
Notable projects include Chevron's $5 billion blue hydrogen and ammonia project, Project Labrador, scheduled to break ground in 2027 and begin commercial operations by 2032. This endeavour aims to produce lower-carbon hydrogen via steam methane reforming with carbon capture, and is part of the federally backed HyVelocity hydrogen hub in Texas [2][3].
Meanwhile, California-based startup HNO International is planning to build two 4 MW green hydrogen microgrids near Houston for off-grid energy use, with delivery expected in fall 2025 [1]. These microgrids focus on clean power generation rather than fueling infrastructure.
Grace Childers, a chemical engineering student at UT Austin, was one of the drivers in the caravan. The journey, filled with challenges due to the limited availability of hydrogen fuel pumps in Texas, was completed with a quarter tank of fuel remaining. The students attended the Hydrogen Technology Expo as part of the trip.
Hydrogen-powered cars are zero-emission vehicles that use motors similar to those in electric cars but instead of a battery, they use fuel cells and combine hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity. These cars are positioned between gas and electric-powered cars, requiring hydrogen fuel like gas cars and producing zero emissions like electric cars.
Despite the lack of accessible hydrogen fueling stations in Texas, the journey serves as a testament to the safety and feasibility of hydrogen-powered vehicles. As more projects like those mentioned above come to fruition, it's likely that hydrogen fueling stations will be deployed in Texas within the next few years, potentially leading to the appearance of fuel cell trucks on the roads.
In light of these developments, Texas is poised to make a significant leap in the hydrogen industry, contributing to a more sustainable future for transportation.
- The lack of publicly accessible hydrogen fueling stations in Texas did not deter the students from the University of Texas in Austin, as they successfully completed a journey from Austin to Houston using hydrogen-powered vehicles.
- With projects like Chevron's blue hydrogen and ammonia project and HNO International's green hydrogen microgrids planned for Texas, the future may see the deployment of hydrogen fueling stations in the state, potentially leading to the advent of fuel cell trucks on its roads and a significant leap in the hydrogen industry.
