Why (Renewable) Hydrogen in Transport?
(Renewable) Hydrogen
How is (renewable) Hydrogen offered as a Fuel at a Refuelling Station?
(Renewable) hydrogen as a fuel, is mainly supplied in a gaseous state, while liquid hydrogen is under development:
- Gaseous hydrogen, stored under high pressure (typically 350 or 700 bar), is currently the most widely deployed solution. It is suitable for heavy duty trucks, buses and passenger cars, supported by established refuelling standards and infrastructure.
- Liquid hydrogen, stored at very low temperatures, offers a higher energy density. This makes it particularly promising for long distance and heavy duty transport, where maximising driving range and payload is critical. While liquid hydrogen technology and infrastructure are still under development, it is expected to play a role as hydrogen use in transport scales up.
How can (renewable) hydrogen be used and reduce emissions in the transport sector?
(Renewable) hydrogen can be used as fuel to power fuel-cell vehicles, producing no carbon dioxide (CO2) at the tailpipe. It is also possible to use (renewable) hydrogen in internal combustion engine vehicles.
The overall climate impact of (renewable) hydrogen use depends on how the (renewable) hydrogen is produced. When (renewable) hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity, lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced compared with conventional fuels. This makes renewable hydrogen a solution for decarbonising transport segments that are difficult to electrify directly.
Why can (renewable) hydrogen be a practical choice for vehicles?
- Renewable) hydrogen offers several operational advantages for drivers and fleet operators:
Fast refuelling times comparable to conventional fuels, enabling high vehicle availability and minimal operational disruption. - Long driving ranges, particularly for heavy duty vehicles, making (renewable) hydrogen well suited for intensive and long distance use.
- Lightweight vehicle tanks, offering the benefits of electric propulsion without reducing cargo space or payload capacity.
- Consistent performance, independent of vehicle size, load or climate conditions.
- Zero exhaust emissions* at the tailpipe, allowing vehicles in Europe to operate in low emission zones.
*0 g CO₂/km tailpipe emissions, as measured under the EU type approval procedure. - Scalability for fleets, with centralised refuelling solutions suitable for trucks, buses, taxis and logistics hubs.
- Flexibility of supply, with both gaseous and liquid hydrogen enabling different transport use cases as infrastructure develops.
- Abundant availability of water, enabling (renewable) hydrogen to be produced locally and helping secure refuelling for critical transport fleets, even in a changing geopolitical context.
- Compatibility with renewable energy systems, allowing (renewable) hydrogen to store surplus solar and wind electricity and reuse it later, supporting both transport needs and wider energy system balancing.
What is (renewable) hydrogen?
Hydrogen is a chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. It is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe.
How does refuelling work for (renewable) hydrogen?
Gaseous hydrogen vehicles are refuelled using a secure nozzle system that is similar in use and refuelling time to conventional fuels.
Where Can you Refuel (Renewable) Hydrogen at TotalEnergies?
You can refuel (renewable) hydrogen at a network of public stations operated by TotalEnergies and its partners.