Not just EVs, EU to require hydrogen refueling stations at every 200 km of key highways, by 2031
Hans · Mar 31, 2023 09:10 PM
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The European Union’s has reached a provisional agreement to update its rules for alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR), which will now require hydrogen refueling stations to be deployed alongside EV charging networks. By 2031, all key urban nodes and highways along the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) network must have a gaseous hydrogen refueling station at every 200 km. The hydrogen station must be able to serve both passenger cars and commercial trucks.
The EU says this is a landmark agreement that will enable the transition to zero-emission transport and contribute to the trade bloc’s target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030.
The oil and gas industry have enough know-how to convert existing petrol stations to hydrogen ones in a matter of days
This marks yet another milestone in the EU’s increasing openness to explore alternatives beyond battery EVs, which was previously the only acceptable powertrain type in the trade bloc’s Fit for 55 climate change mitigation goals.
This comes after the EU’s sudden U-turn of its earlier decision to ban combustion engines in favour of BEVs after 2035. The EU has since backdown from its BEV-only rule and will now allow combustion engines running on carbon-neutral synthetic fuels.
“The transition to zero-emission mobility has to be supported by the right infrastructure, ready for you when you need it, where you need it. Electric or otherwise, we want every driver in Europe to be certain that they can travel in confidence throughout the continent. With this agreement we ensure that there are sufficient and user-friendly options available throughout Europe, for both cars, and heavy-duty vehicles,” said Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal.
Because batteries are heavy and eat into a truck's payload, hydrogen is preferred for commercial vehicles
Apart from hydrogen, the new AFIR rules also require EU member countries to have at least one 1.3 kW public EV charging station for every BEV registered.
By 2026, the EU targets to deploy EV charging stations totaling at least 400 kW for every 60 km along the region’s core TEN-T highway network, increasing to 600 kW by 2028.
There is also a separate requirement to support BEV bus and trucks, deploying charging stations totaling between 1,400 kW to 2,800 kW (depending on the roads) on at least half of EU’s main roads by 2028. On Ten-T highways, these charging stations will be installed at every 120 km.
However, the EU also said, “some deployment exemptions would apply to outermost regions, islands and roads with very scarce traffic.”
Hydrogen is held back because the fuel costs a lot more than electricity. If you think BEVs are expensive, don't ask about an FCEV's price
Regardless of whether it’s an EV charging station or a hydrogen station, rules on pricing transparency, ease of payment must be followed.
“Users of alternative fuel vehicles will have to be able to pay easily and conveniently at recharging or refuelling points (with payment cards, contactless devices or, in certain cases, using a QR code). The price of the “fuels” will have to be displayed per kWh, per minute/session or per kg, be reasonable, easily and clearly comparable, transparent and non-discriminatory,” says the EU.
A database tracking alternative fuels data will be setup by 2027 to provide consumers with information on the availability, waiting times or price at different stations.
Hyundai will make a full-scale transition to hydrogen within this year
Hydrogen fuel is can be used by two types of 'engines', the most common being hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles or FCEVs. An FCEV is an electric vehicle that generates its own electricity on-the-move by mixing hydrogen with oxygen using fuel cell stacks. Instead of batteries, energy is stored inside hydrogen tanks. This technology is actively pursued by Toyota, BMW, and Hyundai.
The other type of hydrogen-fueled vehicle use combustion engines tuned to burn hydrogen fuel (instead of petrol or diesel). This technology is not very well developed and is only actively pursued by Toyota. If successful, existing cars on the road can be coverted to burn hydrogen.
This GR Corolla burns hydrogen, can be refueled like a regular race car. Toyota is currently testing it in endurance racing
Either way, hydrogen-fueled vehicles are still a lot less practical than battery EVs. Despite the promise of faster refueling time (less than 10 minutes), hydrogen fuel costs a lot more to generate, transport, and store, than easily available electricity.
Backers of the technology however, say that cost will come down as the technology matures, and renewable energy like solar and wind power cannot scale without using hydrogen as an energy storage medium, because there just isn't enough batteries to go around.
On its own, FCEV is a silly alternative to BEVs, hydrogen is far more expensive than electricity. FCEV is only viable when it's part of a wider hydrogen economy
The chemicals industry will also need to switch to green hydrogen as their 'feedstock,' which will accelerate the coming together with the renewable energy sector, as well as hydrogen-powered ships and heavy trucks to form the basis of a 'hydrogen economy.'
When that happens, FCEVs will be more competitive than BEVs because of its ease of refueling, longer range, and greater stability in cold weather. Since the oil and gas industry already has decades of experience in transporting and storing gas, petrol stations can be converted into hydrogen stations in a matter of days.
Over 15 years of experience in automotive, from product planning, to market research, to print and digital media. Garages a 6-cylinder manual RWD but buses to work.
