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- Hydrogen Fueling Stations Slow in Coming
Hydrogen Fueling Stations Slow in Coming
When people talk about electric mobility, they are usually referring to battery-powered vehicles. Fuel cells still need to gain ground in the public debate. Germany compares favorably with other countries when it comes to networks of hydrogen fueling stations. Its network is second only to Japan’s in size.
The number of hydrogen fueling stations in Germany is still small. At present, there are just 56 fueling stations in the country offering hydrogen fill-ups. But more are joining the network all the time. In 2017, 24 stations went into operation to serve fuel cell vehicles; the total is expected to climb to more than 100 by late 2019. They are dispersed across the country and form a national corridor with a focus on metropolitan areas and southern Germany.
Japan Is the Uncontested Front-runner
Japan is the international front-runner in hydrogen fueling stations. About 100 are now in operation, leading Japanese automakers to put a greater emphasis on hydrogen as the fuel of the future. A partnership between Toyota, Nissan and Honda aims to greatly expand the national hydrogen fueling network in cooperation with a number of energy companies. Another 80 stations are due to be built over the next four years. The number should reach 320 by 2025 and 900 by 2030.
Fast Fueling
Vehicles that rely on hydrogen fuel cells are popular with consumers because they can be filled up like conventional models. The fueling process only takes about five minutes, and the drivers are on their way. It takes much longer to charge battery-electric vehicles, a current hydrogen station can fuel 40 cars a day.
California as Pioneer
The United States ranks third in the number of hydrogen fueling stations operating on its territory. Here California clearly stands out. As the U.S. Department of Energy reported in late January 2018, the state has 35 out of the country’s 39 hydrogen fueling stations. Not least of all, its pioneering role can be traced back to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s tenure as governor. Among other programs to safeguard the climate, he commissioned the construction of a network of hydrogen fueling stations.
For the May edition of our customer magazine ESSENTIAL, we spoke with Terry Tamminen about hydrogen as an important piece of the climate-protection puzzle, among other topics. Now CEO of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, he was the environmental advisor to Arnold Schwarzenegger during his time as governor.
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