Germany to expand hydrogen-filling infrastructure to 400 stations by 2023

Six industrial companies – Air Liquide, Daimler, Linde, OMV, Shell and Total – have formed a cross-sector joint venture, H₂ MOBILITY Deutschland GmbH & Co KG. The creation of the limited partnership paves the way for a staged expansion of hydrogen (H₂) filling stations across Germany, which will bring the total to around 400 by 2023.

The Berlin-based company has started operations and is working intensively in preparation for Stage One of the joint action plan. This envisages the accelerated set-up of 100 filling stations over the next few years. Senior representatives of the H₂ MOBILITY venture partners met yesterday at launch talks held with the Federal Minister of Transport Alexander Dobrindt and discussed the next steps. The industry and government partners have reinforced their commitment by signing a memorandum of understanding on hydrogen filling stations for Germany.

Federal Minister Dobrindt said: “E-mobility must be emotional and shall arouse passion for the drive of the future. Electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells offer the best conditions: You have a long range and can refuel in some minutes. For the market ramp-up of this technology, we now need a comprehensive network of fueling stations for hydrogen. Therefore, I welcome the plans of H₂ MOBILITY to build up 400 hydrogen fueling stations in Germany by 2023."

The H₂ MOBILITY action plan envisages a Germany-wide network of H₂ stations by 2023, which would make Germany the first country to offer an inter-regional network where fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) can fill up with hydrogen. Therefore investments of around 400 million euros (Rs 3,057 crore) in total are planned.

As the industrial key player in the expansion of H₂ infrastructure in Germany, H₂ MOBILITY, which is a member of the recently formed ‘Hydrogen Mobility Europe’ network, forms an integral part of the research project for the further development of hydrogen-powered mobility.

The first automotive manufacturers already have FCEVs in production for the German market. Others are to follow. Germany aims to make itself the leading market for sustainable mobility solutions and efficient technology. Electric mobility with fuel cell-powered vehicles will help to cut CO₂ emissions significantly especially when using hydrogen from renewable energy sources, as FCEVs drive locally emission free.

Numerous associated partners support the activities of the H₂ Mobility. Via the H₂ Mobility advisory, car manufacturers BMW, Volkswagen, Honda and Toyota, as well as the technology company Intelligent Energy are involved in the joint venture.

The H₂ Mobility is also in close partnership with the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), the largest hydrogen mobility project in Europe. CEP members include Air Liquide, BMW, Daimler, EnBW, Ford, GM/Opel, Hamburger Hochbahn, Honda, Hyundai, Linde, Shell, Siemens, Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen SSB, Total, Toyota, OMV, Volkswagen and Westfalen Group.