Several global automakers are meeting today (22 September) in Brussels with refuelling infrastructure providers at the Hydrogen for Clean Transport conference to discuss moving towards a zero emission transport sector in Europe by 2040.
The event aims to raise awareness among policy makers and other stakeholders of the role to be played by hydrogen mobility alongside full battery electric vehicles in achieving zero emissions. Automakers present include Audi, BMW, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota.
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The conference, sponsored by the Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) and hydrogen projects, HyFIVE and H2ME, is a first for Europe's transport industry. As more European countries move toward partial or complete bans on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies are seen as an increasingly important component of the future mix of vehicles on Europe's roads.
The conference also highlights the progress of major FCEV deployment efforts and a Europe-wide collaboration to put more hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on European roads.
The framework of the FCH JU has allowed the collaboration of major vehicle OEMs through the HyFIVE and H2ME projects, alongside refuelling solution providers, research institutes and public authorities.
HyFIVE has developed a hydrogen network within three clusters: London, Copenhagen and a southern area comprising Innsbruck, Munich, Stuttgart and Bolzano.
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By GlobalDataH2ME expanded this collaboration to 12 European countries (the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Belgium, Austria, Italy, and Luxembourg) to give FCEV drivers access to the first pan-European network of hydrogen refuelling stations.
"This marks an important step for clean mobility in Europe," said EC FCH JU executive director, Bart Biebuyck.
"The presence of seven important manufacturers translates to a strong commitment from industry, which is a crucial element to push forward with the deployment of hydrogen vehicles"
Hydrogen Europe secretary general, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis added: "The Hydrogen for Clean Transport conference is timely, with the release of crucial sets of legislation for the mobility sector this autumn.
"With this conference, our industry members showcase the readiness level of fuel cell electric vehicles as a complementary solution to battery electric vehicles, the only two zero emission drivetrains that enable transport decarbonisation."
Hydrogen for Clean Transport showcases the advances made by hydrogen technology in the transport sector, particularly focusing on passenger cars and vans, and outlines solutions to overcome the remaining challenges to widespread commercialisation by 2025.
This event is a partnership between the European Commission's Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and flagship hydrogen projects HyFIVE and H2ME.
This project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 621219, No 671438 and No 700350.
The joint undertaking receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Hydrogen Europe and the New European Research Grouping on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen.
