Exploring the Potential of Hydrogen Fuel in European Public Transport
Key Ideas
- 93% of European public transport decision-makers are concerned about the capacity of using hydrogen fuel, despite recognizing its benefits in overcoming limitations of battery-powered fleets.
- 21% of respondents have already purchased hydrogen vehicles, with 61% planning to invest in the next two years, highlighting a growing interest in hydrogen adoption.
- Access to permanent fuelling infrastructure and safe hydrogen storage are key barriers identified in the research, emphasizing the need for decentralised solutions and closer work with developers.
- The 'Road Ahead' report by IMI provides recommendations for wider adoption of hydrogen fuel in public transport, focusing on decentralisation and on-site electrolyser technology.
A recent research commissioned by IMI surveyed 300 senior public transport professionals across the UK, Germany, and Italy regarding the adoption of hydrogen fuel in the sector. Despite concerns about grid capacity, 89% of respondents viewed hydrogen as an effective solution for limitations faced by battery-powered fleets. The study highlighted the importance of hydrogen in achieving net zero emissions in the sector and emphasized the need to address barriers to wider adoption. Key challenges identified include the lack of permanent fuelling infrastructure and safe hydrogen storage. The report suggests on-site generation through decentralised electrolysis as a solution to bridge this gap. Additionally, the study revealed a lack of technical expertise and familiarity with hydrogen technology among public transport decision-makers, calling for closer collaboration with developers. The 'Road Ahead' report by IMI synthesizes these findings, focusing on the role of decentralization in unlocking hydrogen's potential in public transport and analyzing the impact of on-site electrolyser technology for wider adoption.