The H2Accelerate collaboration has published its latest policy paper, highlighting the actions and support needed from policymakers to establish a European H₂ trucking ecosystem and meet the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) CO₂ targets set by the European Commission.

The updated HDV CO₂ targets set by the European Commission require a 45% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. Achieving these targets is reliant on the sale of zero emission trucks: namely battery and H₂ technology, with tens of thousands of H₂ vehicles needed on European roads by 2030, according to ACEA’s estimates, alongside the upstream H₂ production and refueling infrastructure.

Recognizing the role of H₂ trucking in achieving decarbonization targets, the European Commission has implemented the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) to ensure that member states increase their use of renewable energy, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation to mandate the availability of zero emissions refueling and recharging infrastructure, and funding schemes, such as the Connecting Europe Facility Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Fund to promote zero carbon mobility. These actions have provided positive signals for the H₂ trucking sector, however uncertainty on the long-term business case is currently impeding the long-term large-scale investments needed.

The recent report on ‘The future of European competitiveness’, by Mario Draghi, recognizes the role of H₂ in maintaining European competitiveness in addition to achieving decarbonization goals. This report highlights that H₂ will need to play a specific role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, such as transport, and advocates for the European Union to support investments in renewable fuels via funding schemes and renewable fuel support programs, including CEF AFIF and the European H₂ Bank.

Niklas Gustafsson, Head of Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs from Volvo Group, said, “At Volvo Group we recognize H₂ as a key solution to decarbonize long distance trucking. However, we also see that today, the pathway to a positive business case is challenged. We are committed to realizing the H₂ trucking ecosystem, but we need to do this together with governments, through strong policy support to accelerate and sustain this ecosystem. We believe that recognition from all stakeholders on the challenges we are facing and the changes needed to resolve them is urgently needed.”

Although the Commission has made significant strides, members of the H2Accelerate collaboration have identified several key areas that are constraining the implementation of H₂ as a fuel for heavy-duty road transport in Europe. The policy paper recommends that European policymakers take the following actions to enable industry and government to build the H₂ trucking ecosystem together:

• Fund the joint deployment of H₂ refueling stations and H₂ trucks.
• Coordinate geographic spread of H₂ refueling and production infrastructure with input from member states and industry.
• Create certainty on the availability of renewable H₂ for road mobility through the European H₂ Bank and RED mandates.
• Ensure member states implement measures to achieve total cost of ownership that is competitive with diesel trucks, for example, through a combination of increasing carbon tax under ETS II, RED credits for green H₂ at a sufficiently high level, and reduced road tolls and road tax exemptions for zero emission vehicles.
• Commit to delivering on existing policy and regulatory frameworks and ensure that regulations are consistent with decarbonization targets by continuously monitoring the transition.

H2Accelerate members believe that these measures will create the enabling conditions for the series production and scaled deployment of H₂ trucks and coordinated deployment of the supporting infrastructure. Urgently implementing these actions is a prerequisite to achieving a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality in 2050.

Hannah Bryson-Jones, Spokesperson for the H2Accelerate collaboration, said, “H₂ as fuel for heavy-duty road transport is still in the early stages of scale-up and investing in this technology currently presents a huge risk for companies working to decarbonize. With just over 5 years until 2030, we cannot afford to hold back investment in technological innovation and infrastructure build-out due to uncertainty on the long-term business case. The H2Accelerate collaboration is committed to work transparently with the European Commission to set out a roadmap and action plan to achieving 2030 targets.”