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The California Energy Commission is studying key fuel cell vehicle (FCV) infrastructure issues that need to be addressed in the next decade. This paper reports preliminary findings. A survey was conducted of industry experts on FCV technology status and related fuels. The survey includes information on leading FCV fuels, fuel production, quality, safety concerns, and other key areas. Findings indicate proton-exchange membrane FCVs are likely to be commercial by 2004, and likely fuels in the mid- and long-term include gasoline, methanol, natural gas and hydrogen. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations made to aid the state in preparing for this technology.

California's experience with fuel methanol holds lessons for infrastructure development efforts for other alternative fuels and suggests strategic approaches for developing future infrastructure to serve dedicated vehicles: 1. Vehicle/engine capability to utilize “dedicated” (neat) fuels in a fuel-flexible mode; this requires large investments to meet initially small markets. 2. “Strategic dispersal”, placing stations along primary transportation corridors and in “target areas” determined by proximity to alternative fuel fleets; adopted in the California Enery Commission's M85 network. 3. Massive infrastructure development effort, coupled with the financial depth to persist until fuel throughput reaches economically sustainable levels. This approach may be unstable if tied solely to the fortunes of a single company. 4. “Strategic concentration,” the development of a dense fueling network in delimited areas, allowing the incremental deployment of dedicated fuel vehicles.