Hydrogen Deployment for Mobility

Why Hydrogen?

Hydrogen is emerging as a versatile energy carrier that can complement electricity in the transition to lowcarbon transport. Its main advantages for mobility are:

• High energy density: About 120MJ/kg, roughly three times that of gasoline.
• Zero tailpipe emissions: Fuelcell vehicles emit only water vapor.
• Fast refuelling: Comparable to conventional gasoline refuelling (35minutes).
• Scalability across sectors: The same hydrogen can fuel cars, buses, trucks, trains, ships and even aircraft.

When produced from renewable electricity (green hydrogen), the entire cycle can achieve nearzero greenhousegas emissions, making it a cornerstone of many national climate strategies.

Key Applications in Mobility

Passenger Cars

Fuelcell electric vehicles (FCEVs) such as the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo demonstrate the technologys maturity. They offer ranges of 400500km and are particularly attractive in regions where longdistance travel is common.

Public Transport

Hydrogen buses are already operating in cities across Europe, Asia, and North America. A single bus can run for 300km on a 30kg hydrogen tank, and a quick 10minute refuel keeps them in service all day.

HeavyDuty Trucks

Longhaul trucking demands high energy density and short refuelling timestwo areas where hydrogen excels. Early pilots in Europe and the U.S. have shown that a 600km range can be achieved with a 15kg tank.

Rail and Shipping

Hydrogenpowered locomotives and fuelcell ferries are being tested for routes where electrification is economically prohibitive. Their zeroemission operation is especially valuable for ports and inland waterways.

Aviation

While still experimental, hydrogen aviation concepts (both combustion and fuelcell) promise dramatic reductions in aircraft CO per passengerkilometre, especially for shorthaul flights.

Infrastructure Needs

Deploying hydrogen at scale requires a coordinated rollout of production, distribution, and refuelling assets.

Production

Current capacity is dominated by steammethane reforming (SMR). To meet climate goals, the share of green hydrogenproduced via electrolysis powered by renewable electricitymust increase dramatically. Target green share: 30% by 2030, 70% by 2040 (according to the International Energy Agency).

Transport & Storage

Hydrogen can be transported as compressed gas (350700bar), liquefied (253C), or via pipelines. Each method has tradeoffs:

• Compressed gas: simpler, suited for local distribution.
• Liquefied: higher energy density, ideal for longdistance shipments.
• Pipelines: most efficient for large volumes, but require high upfront investment.

Refuelling Stations

Stations typically consist of onsite electrolyzers or bulk deliveries, compression, and safety systems. A typical 350bar dispenser costs US$12million; 700bar stations are about 30% more expensive but provide faster refuelling.

Standardisation

International standards (ISO14687 for fuel quality, ISO19880 for station design) are essential to ensure safety and interoperability across borders.

Policy & Incentives

Government action is pivotal. Successful programmes combine regulatory support, financial incentives, and marketcreation measures.

• Funding for electrolyzers: Grants and lowinterest loans to accelerate greenhydrogen production.
• Zeroemission vehicle mandates: Fleet quotas for FCEVs in public transport and logistics.
• Refuelling subsidies: Reduced electricity tariffs for station operators, tax exemptions on hydrogen fuel.
• Carbon pricing: Makes lowcarbon hydrogen commercially competitive against fossilbased fuels.

Examples include the EUs Hydrogen Strategy for a ClimateNeutral Europe, Japans Hydrogen Society roadmap, and the U.S. Department of Energys H2@Scale initiative.

Challenges & Solutions

Cost

Electrolyzer capital costs have fallen from >US$1500/kW in 2010 to ~US$600/kW in 2024, but further reductions to

Supply Security

Hydrogen production depends on renewable electricity availability. Integrating electrolyzers with wind/solar farms and using gridbalancing services can improve utilisation.

Public Acceptance

Safety concerns persist despite hydrogens proven safety record in industry. Transparent communication, robust training, and clear signage at stations help build confidence.

Competing Technologies

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) dominate passengercar markets, while hydrogen shines in heavyduty and longrange segments. Policy should target the niche where hydrogens strengths are unmatched.

Future Outlook

By 2030, the International Energy Agency projects global hydrogen demand to reach 150Mt, with transport accounting for roughly 20% of that volume. The following trends are expected:

• Hybrid powertrains: Combination of batteries and fuel cells to optimise efficiency for mediumrange trucks.
• Distributed electrolyzers: Smallscale units colocated with renewable farms, reducing transport losses.
• Sector coupling: Using excess renewable electricity to produce hydrogen for both mobility and industrial heat.
• International corridors: Crossborder hydrogen pipelines linking production hubs (e.g., North Sea) with demand centers (e.g., Central Europe).

Continued investment, clear policy signals, and collaborative research will determine whether hydrogen becomes an integral pillar of the future mobility mix.