According to a recent investigation by Hydrogen Insight, new registrations of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) are hitting a standstill across most European markets. This is happening despite several companies rolling out plans to open numerous new hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) across various countries and new EU laws requiring hundreds more refueling spots by 2027. Here’s what’s been happening.
Numbers are plummeting
The data shows that in almost every European country with at least one HRS, FCEV registrations have either dropped significantly or stagnated. For instance, Germany, Europe’s biggest market for hydrogen cars, saw a nearly 70% drop in new FCEV registrations in 2023.
On a brighter note, France is emerging as one of the most dynamic markets for FCEVs in Europe, even though hydrogen vehicle sales are still very small compared to battery-electric vehicles. The UK and Czechia also saw more than ten FCEV registrations per HRS last year.
In Switzerland, which boasts one of the largest concentrations of HRSs in Europe, new FCEV registrations fell by 50%, with only 28 passenger cars and ten commercial vehicles registered last year, according to the Swiss Federal Office for Statistics. This is a stark contrast to the 40,507 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) Switzerland registered in 2023.
Biggest pitfalls in Europe
Another European refueling hotspot, the Netherlands, also saw a major drop in FCEV registrations. From January to the end of September 2023, only 29 FCEVs were registered (including nine buses), according to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. This is a whopping 76% drop compared to the 122 registrations during the same period the previous year. During this time, there were 10,292 BEVs registered.
This decline happened even though the Netherlands has 19 hydrogen filling stations, with two more on the way. In November 2022, the Dutch government announced a €22 million subsidy program for hydrogen trucks and filling stations. However, in September 2023, just before the end of the reporting period, the government boosted that subsidy program to €150 million. The “Hydrogen in Mobility” scheme now offers up to €300,000 ($326,485) per fuel-cell truck, van, or bus, and €2 million per filling station when both are deployed together, aiming to make hydrogen a viable alternative to battery-electric transport.
Meanwhile, in Denmark, things aren’t looking great for FCEVs either. Last year, over 100 taxis and other users were left stranded when operator Everfuel shut down all three of the country’s hydrogen refueling stations due to profitability issues. In 2023, Denmark saw only one commercial FCEV registration and no hydrogen car registrations, compared to 65,483 BEVs. The previous year had six FCEV registrations, according to Statistics Denmark.
The H2.live site currently shows four hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) in Denmark, including the three that Everfuel closed. All of them are listed as having “technical difficulties.” The fourth is a station at a Nel factory in Herning, which isn’t open to the public and is only used for demonstrations.
According to data compiled by Hydrogen Insight, FCEV sales are dropping in South Korea and Japan, but there’s market growth in China and the US.
A glimmer of hope
However, it’s not all bad news for the European FCEV market. In France, where there are 11 hydrogen refueling stations with two more on the way, hydrogen vehicle sales grew by about 56% year-on-year to 306, according to the French Automobile Platform (PFA). Even so, this number is tiny compared to the 298,000 BEV sales for the year.
FCEV sales are likely to see a boost in 2024. Just three days after introducing eight new hydrogen van models, French automaker Stellantis sold 150 of these vehicles to Hysetco, a joint venture involving Toyota, Air Liquide, Idex, and electric taxi firm Step that leases fuel-cell vehicles in France.
Additionally, French oil major TotalEnergies and industrial gases company Air Liquide have announced the launch of their 50-50 joint venture, Teal Mobility, which aims to have up to 20 hydrogen refueling stations operational by the end of 2024. This move is expected to further support the growth of the hydrogen vehicle market in France.