Air Liquide has joined the newly launched Global Hydrogen Mobility Alliance, a coalition of industry leaders gathering equipment manufacturers, Automotive & Technology suppliers, Energy & Chemicals players. The Alliance is calling for the acceleration of the development of hydrogen mobility to secure Europe’s industrial strength and sustainability. To better understand this initiative, Erwin Penfornis, Vice President of Air Liquide’s Hydrogen Energy business line, answers our questions.
What does hydrogen mobility offer that electric batteries do not?
It adds crucial layers of resilience, competitiveness, and system-wide efficiency. Firstly, it requires much less infrastructure investments. Secondly, the full electrification of Europe’s fleet, especially heavy-duty vehicles, would overwhelm grids, so hydrogen storage can help maintain their stability. On top of that, hydrogen can help solve the growing problem of fluctuating renewable power, providing a way to store and use the energy that would otherwise be wasted. Thirdly, hydrogen vehicles provide a range comparable to that of diesel, with fast refueling times (15 minutes for 600+ km range versus 45 minutes for 400 km for battery electric), and lighter weight for increased payload. Thanks to these advantages, hydrogen is crucial for heavy and long-distance transport, which is difficult to decarbonize.
Why is this technology not broadly adopted yet?
The technology is ready: it is mature, safe, and reliable. However, for commercial transport operators, whose margins are tight, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)1 is the deciding factor. The current price of hydrogen at the pump needs to be optimized, vehicles are still expensive due to a lack of mass production, and the refueling network needs to get denser. Therefore, it is now urgent to bridge this cost gap.
How does Europe’s progress compare on the global stage?
Other regions are moving very quickly and decisively. China, for example, is already the world leader in deployment, with more than 28,000 hydrogen trucks and buses on the roads and hundreds of refueling stations in operation as of this year. They have a stated goal of reaching 1 million vehicles by 2030. This isn’t just about catching up; it’s about Europe leveraging its own strengths to lead in a technology that is vital for our industrial future.
To create that momentum, the Alliance is calling for a “market activation phase.” What does this involve?
We are calling for a pragmatic and targeted strategy. At the heart of this approach, we advocate for effective public support for the deployment of refueling infrastructure, drawing inspiration from successful programs like the SWiM initiative in the Netherlands. The principle is to simultaneously develop fleets of trucks and the stations that supply them along key corridors. This method reduces investment risks and offers a concrete pathway to meet European objectives. It must be complemented by other incentives, such as road toll exemptions for zero-emission vehicles.
This pragmatism also applies to technology: we must be technology-neutral and support both fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen combustion engines to accelerate deployment. Finally, on the supply side, while the goal is 100% decarbonized hydrogen, environmental requirements must be introduced progressively to give the entire ecosystem time to adapt.
What strategic opportunity does the development of a hydrogen economy represent for Europe today?
The long-term vision is a competitive and self-sustaining hydrogen mobility market that makes our economy stronger while preserving the environment. At Air Liquide, we are already building toward this future, investing across the entire value chain: from large-scale low-carbon hydrogen production, such as our Normand’Hy electrolyzer, to the distribution infrastructure needed to deliver it to end customers, which is the purpose of TEAL Mobility, our joint venture with TotalEnergies.
We have a unique opportunity to deliver on Europe’s climate commitments and guarantee its energy safety for the future. This path simultaneously strengthens our industrial competitiveness, creating a powerful synergy for progress. We are ready to join forces with public and private partners to make this vision a reality.