Japan: 1000 hydrogen stations by end of decade

In a draft of its growth strategy due out in June, the Japanese government plans to deploy 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations for fuel-cell vehicles across the country by 2030.

Tokyo’s goal is to have all new car sales be electric by the middle of the next decade, so the plan to double the number of charging stations is part of that goal. Hydrogen vehicles, which use fuel cells to power electric motors, would fall under this category.

A plan to attract advanced semiconductor factories by providing support measures “comparable to that of other countries” is also included in the draft.

By 2050, Japan has committed to reducing net carbon emissions to zero.

Electric vehicles, including hydrogen-fueled vehicles, are expected to achieve “the same level of economy and convenience as gasoline cars by 2030 at the latest,” according to the draft. More fast-charging and hydrogen stations would improve convenience, while purchase subsidies for electric vehicles would boost the economy.

The country currently has about 160 hydrogen stations and has previously stated that it wants to increase that number to 320 by 2025, so the new target is a significant increase.