Total and Air Liquide are targeting heavy goods traffic with their project.
(Photo: imago/Florian Schuh)
Paris Total Energies and Air Liquide want to set up a European network of hydrogen filling stations for trucks. The energy group and the gas manufacturer from France announced on Thursday the establishment of a joint venture. In the coming years, more than 100 filling stations for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles are to be built along the main traffic routes in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The aim is to “create a major player in hydrogen refueling,” said Total and Air Liquide. Both companies are also involved in the H2 Mobility consortium, which is also building a hydrogen tank network. Those around Total said that the joint venture with Air Liquide should be understood as a supplement to H2 Mobility and not as a competitor.
While the H2 Mobility filling stations are also aimed at cars and vans, Total and Air Liquide are only targeting heavy goods traffic with their project. The companies are still awaiting regulatory approval but aim to finalize the deals for the combined company later this year. The offer should contribute to a “decarbonization of road traffic in Europe”.
Total operates more than 10,000 petrol stations across Europe
According to the statement, the joint venture will build and operate the filling stations. In addition, hydrogen will be bought together on the markets. In particular, Total will contribute “its experience in the operation and management of gas station networks” and Air Liquide “its technological expertise”.
Total has more than 10,000 petrol stations in Europe, most of them in France. In Germany, the energy group is the third-largest gas station operator with a good 1,100. Air Liquide is one of the world’s leading companies in the production, storage and transport of hydrogen.
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“This new partnership will allow us to continue our development along the complete hydrogen value chain,” said Thierry Pflimlin, Director of Marketing and Services at Total Energies. Air Liquide board member Matthieu Giard explained that the expansion of the tank infrastructure must be accelerated so that low-emission hydrogen can prevail in freight transport.
At H2 Mobility, Total and Air Liquide work together with Daimler Truck, Hyundai, Linde, Shell and OMV. Last year, the consortium announced that it would expand the existing network of 92 filling stations in Germany to 300 by 2030.
In addition to batteries, fuel cell drives with hydrogen are an alternative to diesel engines in commercial vehicles. In the European Union, new models must reduce their CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2019 as a contribution to climate protection.
More: Hydrogen tank network H2 Mobility is to be expanded with 110 million euros
