WASHINGTON – According to a report on the Greener Ideal website, a recent research study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) may help speed up process of installing hydrogen fuel cell stations throughout the state of California.

The SNL study, which examined 70 gas stations in California, found that 14 of them could integrate hydrogen fuel right away, while another 17 only need some property expansions before they could be ready to cater to fuel cell vehicles. Integrating hydrogen storage into gas stations is a far cheaper option than building new hydrogen fueling stations from the ground up, considering that the construction of an entirely new station can cost up to $1.5 million.

In their article, Greener Ideal explains that the SNL report found that the stations ready to immediately integrate hydrogen fueling meet the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hydrogen technologies code from 2011, which includes guidelines for the storage, use, piping and generation of hydrogen and is an essential tool for making sure that hydrogen fueling stations are operated in a safe manner, due to their serious flammability issues.

For the latest information on consumer perceptions about hydrogen vehicles, read this week’s NACS Daily article, “Hydrogen Cars Are Here — What Now?”