Hydrogen energy for vehicles

With a charging time of less than five minutes and a range of 500 km, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are efficient for long-distance journeys. Such journeys represent 75% of CO₂ emissions from the transport sector. Moreover, hydrogen fuel cell engines do not generate any pollution at the point of use: zero CO₂ emissions, zero particulates and zero noise.

Air Liquide is contributing to the growing use of hydrogen in the transportation sector by supporting the creation of the necessary network of hydrogen charging stations at the global level. At this point, 100 hydrogen stations have been designed and built by Air Liquide.

Our stations can fill the fuel tanks of vehicles (buses, cars, forklifts, etc.) with hydrogen stations ranging from 35mpa up to 70mpa. We offer a range of standardized or tailor-made products and solutions to meet your specific needs. A mobile charging station is available for rent and for special events such as road trips, exhibitions and conferences.

In 2012, Air Liquide opened its first hydrogen charging station, open to the general public for private cars, in the town of Düsseldorf, Germany. Following this cutting-edge station, roughly 50 hydrogen charging stations have been designed and built by Air Liquide throughout the world.

In addition to the market for private cars, public transportation also represents a promising market. The Group supplied a hydrogen station in Oslo, Norway, to recharge five buses operated by a Norwegian transportation company, and another one in Aargau, Switzerland, where the local authorities also operate five buses. Hydrogen provides real benefits in the fight against urban pollution: not only do hydrogen vehicles offer great driving comfort, they also produce no greenhouse gases or particulates and are completely silent.

Among other advantages, hydrogen buses help reduce local emissions to improve citizens’ quality of life and comply with air quality requirements in cities.

For companies that want to combine innovation and environmental awareness, hydrogen is the perfect solution. Using this energy enables you to drastically reduce your carbon footprint.  Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have all the advantages of electric vehicles without the disadvantages: zero pollution but a wider range and a quicker recharging time.Several companies have been convinced by the benefits of hydrogen, like La Poste (the French postal service company), which uses Symbio Renault Kangoo ZE-H2 utility vehicles as part of Hyway project (supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the French Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region), as well as STEP (Société du Taxi Electrique Parisien- Parisian Electric Taxi firm), which has hydrogen-powered taxis.

We know that converting a vehicle fleet to hydrogen is a key decision for a company to make. It can require a significant initial investment and a long-term commitment. At Air Liquide, we want to provide you with the expertise and support to help you navigate these decisions and give you the right tools throughout the project.

Air Liquide is strongly involved in major, clean mobility projects and has a good presence in European projetcts - with the support of  Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, Trans-European Network for Transport program, the European Regional Development Fund - and American projects - with the support of the Energy Department - and locals initiatives such as CEP in Germany and Horizon Hydrogen Energie. The Group is also one of the founding partners of the Hydrogen Mobility Europe initiative, which aims to significantly increase the number of hydrogen stations and fuel cell vehicles in Europe.

In order for hydrogen energy to develop as a clean mode of transportation, there also needs to be a greater number of hydrogen vehicles. That is why a strong collaboration exists with OEMs and in particular with Hyundai and Toyota, who have both launched  Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles(FCEV): the Hyundai IX35 and the Toyota Mirai.