Towards a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure for fuel cell electric cars in view of EU GHG reduction targets

This paper outlines the value of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and the status of the required hydrogen refuelling infrastructure development in the context of the EU’s alternative fuels infrastructure ambition (as expressed in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive1, AFID) and the national policy frameworks which are part of this. The zero-emission capabilities of fuel cell powertrains is addressed as well as the potential to extend these in a well-to-wheel perspective when producing hydrogen from renewable or carbon-free energy sources. A detailed overview is given of the state-of-the-art of FCEVs and their deployment into the market, including the deployment of a sufficient number of hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs) in the first key markets in Europe. The HIT (Hydrogen Infrastructure for Transport) project, funded by EU’s Trans European Network for Transport programme (TEN-T), is briefly presented including a description how it can contribute to a harmonized HRS roll-out in countries that choose to include hydrogen in their national policy frameworks. Finally current policies and rollout strategies are investigated and described in order to see how they can facilitate a timely roll out of fuel cell vehicles, so the EU can achieve its emission reduction targets for transport. Preliminary conclusions are:
- To reach EU GHG emission reduction targets for transport by 2050 biofuels, renewable methane, electricity, and hydrogen will need to be applied wherever possible. Even the most advanced ICE (Internal Combustion Engines) technologies will NOT be sufficient to meet this target by far.
- FCEVs are becoming available in growing numbers and HRS networks are gradually being established. A better coordinated deployment of vehicles and infrastructure in Europe is needed in order to secure these vehicles for the European market.
- HRS rollout will already be required in sufficient numbers in the early phases, in order to achieve acceptable area coverage. Due to the initially low number of vehicles, these HRSs will however remain underutilized in the beginning and will need innovative business models and support. Support mechanisms are also needed for FCEV purchases before the mass production phase is reached.
- Successful instruments in the market introduction phase are: the participation of local/regional and national authorities in public private partnerships (as in the EU), direct funding for FCEVs and HRSs (as in Norway and Japan) and stringent technology-oriented zero-emission vehicle policies (as in California).