IRVINE, California, Aug. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- True Zero (www.truezero.com), which operates the world's largest network of retail hydrogen-charging stations, reached a major milestone last week of powering more than 1,000,000 zero-emission miles by fuel-cell vehicles. True Zero opened its first charging station nine months ago, so the milestone signals a major ramp up of fuel-cell vehicles on California roads in recent months.

The achievement of a million miles comes as a result of automakers, including Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz expanding their fuel-cell-vehicle programs.  Toyota has recently accelerated sales of its hydrogen-powered Mirai in California, as the hydrogen-charging network has grown.  Honda will begin selling its Honda Clarity in California this fall, after beginning retail sales earlier this year in Japan.

"We're starting to see the real impact of what we set out to do two years ago," said Joel Ewanick, founder and CEO of First Element Fuel, True Zero's parent. "And that was to help get more electric cars on the road by making retail hydrogen readily available in California."

Between November 2015 and May 2016, True Zero built 15 hydrogen stations throughout California, 14 of which are open for retail fueling.  The True Zero Network of hydrogen-charging stations spans from Lake Tahoe, through the San Francisco area and down into Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Orange Counties. 

The network will soon expand into San Diego, where True Zero recently broke ground. Linde also operates a retail hydrogen-charging station in Sacramento, which helps connect the major metropolitan regions of California.

This first phase of the True Zero Hydrogen Network was developed as a result of grant funding from the California Energy Commission as well as additional funds provided by Toyota, Honda, the South Coast AQMD and the Bay Area AQMD.

"The Energy Commission is pleased to provide some of the funding for development of these hydrogen-refueling stations," said California Energy Commissioner Janea A. Scott. "Celebrating the milestone of having over a million fuel cell electric vehicle miles driven on California's roadways demonstrates the progress this market has made in only a few short years. Making the transition to zero-emission vehicles is an important part of California's strategy to achieving our federal clean air standards and ambitious climate goals."

"We set out to show that a hydrogen-electric vehicle can be a true replacement for a gasoline engine, to be seamlessly driven throughout California with just four-minute stops to charge along the way," added Ewanick.  "Now we're seeing it catch on and people have driven more than a million miles in their fuel-cell vehicles, using our network to fuel up."

Since opening for retail customers, the True Zero Network has performed more than 6,300 vehicle fills totaling more than 15,900 kilograms of hydrogen.  That translates to more than 1,000,000 zero-emission miles driven by hydrogen electric cars powered by True Zero.

Additional photos can be found at http://www.truezero.com/images/

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SOURCE True Zero