FCV morning commute convoy
 

Commuter morning, saw a convoy of three Hyundai Tucson FCVs. Also the world's first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle available in the US. The Tucson Fuel Cell is only available as a 3-yr lease, $3K down and $499 a month, the state might still have rebates on it.
The fuel cell system makes its electricity from an electro-chemical reaction between hydrogen and air. Hydrogen in high-pressure tanks pass through a membrane that strips away their electrons, creating the electricity to power the 134-hp AC drive motor. Water vapor comes out of the pipe. The Tucson takes about ten minutes to fill its two 10,000 psi rated hydrogen tanks. It has a claimed 265-mile range but it is still very difficult to live with because of the limited hydrogen filling stations.
Where I LA-LA live, Hyundai is based here and they do have a convenient hydrogen filling station.

Very cool. To my knowledge, I have never seen a FCV on the public roads in Texas.

Fuel cell + battery plug-in FTW ?
I'd love an "all-electric" with optional unlimited range. I'd probably only fill it up a couple of times a year, which is exactly why I'd like it to be plug-in.

Hardly unlimited range, since you're pretty well stuck to places where there are hydrogen filling stations. Which last I saw was only around downtown LA. At least with pure EVs, you might be able to find someone with an extension cord...

In 2007, 'Governator' Arnold Schwarzenegger initiated the California Hydrogen Highway program, it created a public/private partnership to open hydrogen filling stations throughout the state. The California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission partnered with six private sector companies; Ballard Power Systems, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, BP, Shell Hydrogen and Chevron-Texaco to be the basis of the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Very urban-centric locations of the hydrogen suppliers.

Stations Map | California Fuel Cell Partnership

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hAlsGtrJrY

I hate that they can claim first mass produced. Honda would have sold more than 50 in their six years of production if there were more than five stations (~) available.

Decent article here: Surprise Costs Have A Cost: Why we turned down the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell - Autoblog