European industrial gas company Air Liquide and leading transport vehicle manufacturer Iveco Group have jointly installed the first high-pressure hydrogen station for long-haul trucks in Europe.
Located in Fos-sur-Mer, France, the station signifies a significant step towards hydrogen mobility in the region, aligning with the companies’ commitment outlined in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2021.
A Pioneering Commitment to Hydrogen Mobility
“Hydrogen provides an essential solution for energy-intensive commercial vehicle applications, such as long-distance transportation. Today we showed that we have all the resources – vehicles and stations; the ecosystem to move the real hydrogen to the launch: the plan has become a reality,” stated Gerrit Marx, CEO of Iveco Group.
Through this initiative, both Air Liquide and Iveco Group are underscoring their mutual dedication to promoting hydrogen as a pivotal enabler in the energy transition of the transport sector. They leverage their unique capabilities: Air Liquide with its expertise across the hydrogen value chain, from production and storage to distribution, and Iveco Group’s proficiency in manufacturing vehicles powered by alternate fuels.
Urgent Call for a Dense Hydrogen Station Network
“To encourage the widespread use of hydrogen, we need to strengthen the overall conditions of the sector. It is imperative to develop a network of high-capacity stations dense enough for vehicle manufacturers and transport operators to make this transition,” said Erwin Penfornis, Vice President of the Hydrogen Energy World Business Line at Air Liquide.
The installation of the high-pressure hydrogen station prepares the Iveco Group for the delivery of hydrogen trucks by the end of 2023. The companies are together paving the way for hydrogen-powered long-term mobility in Europe.
A Sneak Peek at the Hydrogen Future
During the station’s inauguration, a commercial vehicle manufacturer exhibited a prototype fuel cell truck designed for heavy-duty and long-haul transport. The truck features rapid refueling at a pressure of 700 bar, signifying the emerging era of hydrogen-powered commercial transportation.
