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H2 Mobility Austria Wants to Put Around 2,000 Hydrogen Trucks on the Roads of the Alpine Republic by 2030

By January 27, 2022 3   min read  (523 words)

January 27, 2022 |

Fuel Cells Works, H2 Mobility Austria Wants to Put Around 2,000 Hydrogen Trucks on the Roads of the Alpine Republic by 2030

The Austrian consortium H2 Mobility Austria wants to bring around 2,000 hydrogen trucks onto the roads of the Alpine republic by 2030. Also present: Gebrüder Weiss, Rewe, Spar and Austrian Post.

An association of leading Austrian companies – H2 Mobility Austria – aims to put around 2,000 hydrogen trucks on the roads of the Alpine republic by 2030. On the infrastructure side, the energy company Verbund and the oil company OMV are also involved, with regard to the technology of the vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer, the supplier Magna and the engineering service provider AVL.

The transport company Gebrüder Weiss, Rewe, Spar and Austrian Post, among others, are positioned as operators.

Under the umbrella of H2 Mobility Austria, the partners have commissioned the consulting firm Deloitte to prepare a study on hydrogen mobility with a focus on trucks.

One of the results, according to Alexander Kainer, Partner at Deloitte Austria: Although battery-electric trucks are already in use, they do not have the necessary loading volume / range. “Hydrogen trucks, on the other hand, can be used for journeys with a longer range and thus represent an essential link between rail and road.”

Savings potential of 70 million tons of diesel

Deloitte expects that in Austria – as well as in Germany – 80 percent of the additional costs could be promoted in relation to trucks, but also in relation to the “green” refuelling infrastructure. Calculated on the 2,000 targeted hydrogen trucks by 2030, the funding volume would amount to 460 million euros.

The green H2 production and the development of the filling station infrastructure would represent an additional added value of 475 million euros. In addition, the 2,000 hydrogen trucks could save 70 million tons of diesel fuel.

Kainer:

The hydrogen heavy-duty trucks would lead to an annual CO2 reduction of around 24,000 tons and reduce particulate matter by up to 50 percent.

“In addition, the initiative could create 3,000 to 4,000 new jobs by 2030,”

Starting signal for domestic H2 industry

In the next two years, clear framework conditions must be created in cooperation with the government in order to reduce costs and create investment security for companies. According to Peter Umundum, CEO of Austrian Post, green hydrogen must be clearly labelled. Rolf Dreisbach, Managing Director of AVL, sees the 2,000 hydrogen trucks as a first milestone.

Rolf Dreisbach:

This should be the starting signal for the development of a competitive domestic hydrogen industry.

“The production of green hydrogen means insourcing fuels into the domestic production of sustainable electricity. Companies in Austria have the opportunity to invest in the development of the infrastructure and to play a leading role in the global supply chain for the production of hydrogen trucks.”

The consortium points out that in Switzerland, for example, 50 hydrogen trucks are already in use and in Germany sustainable mobility solutions for vehicles and infrastructure are being promoted with 80 percent of the investment costs.

Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chairman of the Management Board of Gebrüder Weiss.

Our neighbours in the DACH region are leading the way – Austria should follow suit now.

“It is important to create the necessary conditions to build up the domestic infrastructure nationwide and expand a hydrogen truck fleet.”

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