US-based Air Products has announced plans to establish a network of hydrogen refuelling stations across Europe. These stations will be strategically located along major transport corridors near the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The company has not yet disclosed the exact number of planned stations, as this will likely depend on available subsidies.
The proposed network aims to support fuel cell trucks and buses, enhancing reliability and convenience for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty transportation. Air Products has already secured subsidies from the EU Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding programme for some existing and planned hydrogen filling stations in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Additionally, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has provided funding for two hydrogen filling stations in Meckenheim and Duisburg.
The Duisburg station is part of Mercedes-Benz’s GenH2 customer trials, with Air Products participating in testing the fuel cell truck under real-life conditions. The company noted that the truck can refuel at its latest mobile fuelling station in Duisburg.
Air Products is also planning to develop hydrogen refuelling networks in North America. The company recently announced its intention to build networks from Northern to Southern California in the US and between Edmonton and Calgary in Canada. These stations will cater to both heavy- and light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
“Each state-of-the-art, high-capacity, high-reliability station will be able to fuel up to 200 heavy-duty trucks or 2,000 cars per day,” said Alison Hawkins, Air Products’ General Manager for Hydrogen for Mobility, Americas, regarding the California plan. For the Canadian network, Rachel Smith, Vice President and General Manager of Air Products Canada, emphasized the importance of hydrogen in decarbonizing transportation, especially for heavy-duty vehicles traveling long distances in extreme temperatures.
