Automakers have always said that the key hurdle for adoption of hydrogen vehicles is a refueling infrastructure, and the country took a baby step forward today with the launch of the first pipeline-fed hydrogen refueling station, located in Southern California.

California has been an early adopter of the technology, and there are estimated to be a few hundred hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road. Honda leases the FCX Clarity, a hydrogen car, to drivers in SoCal for this reason.

Obviously, that doesn't leave a very big market for customers. Refueling stations do exist, but they are not fed by a constant pipeline. This new facility, located amid a cluster of automotive companies like Toyota, will not only be open to customers, but it will provide hydrogen free of charge. That's right – hydrogen car owners in this part of the country can essentially drive for free.

Other than that, the station will mainly be shared by the major automakers as they develop test fleets for their upcoming hydrogen vehicles. Honda's FCX Clarity may be the best-known model now, but Toyota, Hyundai and GM all plan to have a commercially-available hydrogen model available by 2015.

In the meantime, drivers looking for fuel-efficient, eco-friendly vehicles may want to check out the used cars at New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide range of models.