Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) is funding a startup led by General Motors Co.’s former marketing chief to speed up the opening of hydrogen-fuel stations in California needed for zero-emission cars. Toyota is backing FirstElement Fuel, led by Joel Ewanick , with at least $7.2 million, according to letters filed with the California Energy Commission and obtained by Bloomberg News . FirstElement, based in Newport Beach , California, plans to operate pumps and sell hydrogen for passenger cars from at least 19 new stations in California. The Japanese automaker’s support for the closely held company comes as California provides grants worth $46.6 million for hydrogen-fuel stations that will help companies including Toyota, Hyundai Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. build a market for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles arriving this year and next. “This is really the first step in creating a fueling network that for the first time allows people to […]