Air Liquide and Iveco Group have jointly opened Europe’s first high-pressure hydrogen station for long-haul trucks, marking a significant milestone in their commitment to developing hydrogen mobility on the continent.
The inauguration of this refueling station, based in Fos-sur-Mer, France, aligns with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two companies in December 2021, which aims to advance hydrogen as a crucial enabler for the energy transition in the transportation sector.
The collaboration leverages Air Liquide’s expertise across the entire hydrogen value chain, including production, storage, and distribution, as well as Iveco’s manufacturing capabilities in alternative fuel vehicles. The companies view hydrogen mobility as a key component of their sustainable mobility strategy, particularly for high-energy-demanding commercial applications such as long-haul transport.
The high-pressure hydrogen refueling station in Fos-sur-Mer operates with a large-capacity supply of one tonne of low-carbon hydrogen per day, delivered through a pipeline. During the inauguration, attendees had the opportunity to visit the station and also witnessed a prototype of an Iveco heavy-duty fuel cell truck, specifically designed for long-haulage operations. These hydrogen trucks are expected to be delivered starting from late 2023.
The Fos-sur-Mer station is part of the French-funded “Hydrogène à Aix-Marseille pour une Mobilité Ecologique et Durable” (HyAMMED) project and is also associated with H2Haul, a European project co-financed by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Additionally, a second high-capacity hydrogen refueling station is planned for Salon-de-Provence, capable of supplying two tonnes per day at 700-bar pressure and dedicated to heavy vehicles. This station is anticipated to support around 50 Iveco hydrogen trucks from 2025.
Erwin Penfornis, Vice-President of Hydrogen Energy World Business Line at Air Liquide, emphasised the importance of developing a dense network of high-capacity hydrogen stations to facilitate the widespread adoption of hydrogen. Creating favourable conditions for the sector is seen as crucial for vehicle manufacturers and transport operators to embrace this transition.
