GM rolls out hydrogen-powered chargers for EVs in California wildfire response

General Motors is stepping in to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, deploying mobile charging solutions – including hydrogen-powered generators – to keep displaced EV drivers on the move.

From February through April, GM will send a mix of charging stations across the L.A. metro area, focusing on locations where home charging is no longer an option.

Among them are three HYDROTEC mobile charging units, each capable of DC fast-charging two EVs at once, running on renewable hydrogen. These are still in the pilot phase, but they’re a glimpse of GM’s wider ambitions for hydrogen fuel cell tech.

The support package also includes Yoshi Mobility charging trailers, which run on liquid propane, and an InCharge Energy mobile station, which pairs battery storage with a biodiesel generator.

While the other solutions rely on fossil fuels, GM’s HYDROTEC units are a cleaner, zero-emission option – exactly the kind of real-world test hydrogen advocates have been waiting for.

Regarding the source of the fuel, Driving Hydrogen spoke to a senior contact at GM for comment, who said: “We are still finalizing all the details of deliver and refueling this week. This has been a fast-moving project and a new use case we’re pursuing. While we haven’t locked in the hydrogen source, our goal is to pursue the cleanest option.”

It also makes a wider point. The grid is brilliant – until it isn’t. And when the power’s out, so are the chargers.

For GM, it’s a chance to prove its hydrogen tech in real-world conditions, showing how fuel cells can work as a reliable off-grid power source.