(Berlin) - There are currently 18 public hydrogen filling stations in operation in Germany with 350 bar for heavy commercial vehicles and hydrogen buses. 43 more are in the implementation phase and another 20 are planned. This emerges from the federal government's response (20/8683) to a minor question from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group (20/8285).
50 additional grants planned
The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) also launched a call for funding for publicly accessible hydrogen filling stations for heavy commercial vehicles and hydrogen buses in 2023 and is planning to approve funding for over 50 additional stations by the end of the year. Locations cannot yet be named. There would also be further hydrogen filling stations, the construction of which would be funded by individual countries and the EU. The exact number cannot currently be quantified due to the ongoing implementation.
The federal government expects to put significantly more than 100 hydrogen filling stations for heavy commercial vehicles and hydrogen buses into operation by 2026, it continues. These publicly accessible facilities are spread across Germany, primarily in urban nodes and on the trans-European transport networks (TEN-T).
According to the response, a master plan for hydrogen and fuel cell technology in transport will be developed in order to “targetedly advance” the scaling of hydrogen and fuels produced from it, fuel cell vehicles as well as fuel cell components and systems and the required infrastructure. The federal government is implementing short-term measures to ensure the establishment of an initial network for the refueling infrastructure by 2025.
50 H2 commercial vehicles registered
According to the federal government's knowledge, 50 heavy commercial vehicles powered by hydrogen are registered in Germany. There would also be 193 fuel cell buses, mostly in North Rhine-Westphalia (111), followed by Hesse (31). Coaches are not included. According to the information, there are currently three programs for gas stations and vehicles:
- To date, two calls for funding have been launched to build public hydrogen filling stations for commercial vehicles: in October 2021 with a volume of 60 million euros and in March 2023 with 311 million euros. 201 applications were received, 15 have been approved so far, and a further 57 approvals are planned for 2023.
- However, the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative climate-friendly drives and the associated non-public refueling and charging infrastructure (KsNI) is not specifically focused on hydrogen filling stations. It also enables the promotion of hybrid electric and overhead line vehicles. Ten of 33 applications were approved.
- In order to promote hydrogen filling stations for depots, in addition to the procurement of buses, funds could also be applied for the necessary refueling infrastructure. This does not cover public refueling infrastructure. So far, two funding calls have been completed and further projects have been funded with 9,4 million euros. Five of 26 applications were approved.
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is in charge (figures: as of September 2023).
Photos
193 fuel cell buses are registered in Germany. © H2 Mobility Germany
