Energy giant TotalEnergies and hydrogen gas producer Air Liquide have teamed up to create a joint venture to construct hydrogen refuelling stations for heavy-duty vehicles in France, Germany, and Benelux. The aim is to establish over 100 hydrogen refuelling stations along key European road corridors, though details of the locations have yet to be confirmed. The joint venture is pending the finalization of contracts and regulatory approval.
TotalEnergies will bring its expertise in station network operation and management, and energy distribution to B2B customers, while Air Liquide will contribute its technology know-how and mastery of the hydrogen value chain. Air Liquide is a global leader in the hydrogen space, having already signed cooperation agreements worldwide, including a plan to create a European hydrogen corridor for 1000 trucks in partnership with the Port of Rotterdam.
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TotalEnergies’ partnership with Air Liquide follows its collaboration with Daimler Truck in 2021 for H2 mobility in long-haul transport. H2 Mobility is a German hydrogen filling station operator funded by the government, with investment from French finance company Hy24. The objective is to expand hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles of all sizes.
Total and Daimler planned to build up to 150 H2 filling stations in France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Linde and Daimler Truck have signed an agreement to jointly develop the next generation of liquid hydrogen refuelling technology for fuel cell trucks. TotalEnergies has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyzon Motors to evaluate and develop hydrogen refuelling and vehicle supply solutions for long-haul transport. This joint venture with Air Liquide marks TotalEnergies’ full commitment to not just electric charging infrastructure, but also hydrogen refuelling for trucks.
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Thierry Pflimlin, President of Marketing & Services, TotalEnergies extrapolated on its hydrogen plans: “Following the recent signature of a partnership for the production of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen on our Grandpuits Zero Crude Platform, we are pleased to once again join forces with Air Liquide and continue our common efforts to decarbonise mobility.”
Matthieu Giard, Vice President and Executive Committee Member of the Air Liquide Group, supervising the Hydrogen activities, underlined: “Hydrogen offers clear benefits for heavy-duty mobility. To promote its widespread use, it is imperative to accelerate the development of refuelling infrastructures and to offer vehicle manufacturers and transport operators a sufficiently dense network of stations.” He summarised, It is precisely the ambition of this joint venture, which will benefit from the complementary expertise of Air Liquide and TotalEnergies.”
