EU Invests Over €600 Million to Accelerate Hydrogen Station Network and Clean Mobility in Europe
The European Union has approved over €600 million under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) to accelerate the development of clean mobility networks across roads, rail transport, ports, and airports. Forty-two projects in 26 Member States have been supported, with 38 of them dedicated to new hydrogen refuelling stations for cars, trucks, and buses. This brings the total number of hydrogen stations funded under AFIF since 2021 to 106. These investments support the implementation of the AFIR regulation, which requires minimum coverage of hydrogen refuelling points along the EU’s core road network by 2030, and places hydrogen on equal strategic footing with electrification in the long-term alternative fuels strategy. Since 2021, AFIF has supported 208 projects with around €1.3 billion in direct EU funding, unlocking more than €3.5 billion in total investments in support of the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 objectives.
Part of the new funding package is aimed at ports, including shore-side electrification and alternative fuel infrastructure, with a strong focus on ammonia. For the first time under AFIF, ammonia bunkering infrastructure is being financed, highlighting growing confidence in hydrogen-based fuels for decarbonizing maritime transport and developing future hydrogen-ammonia value chains. This could turn ports into key hubs of the hydrogen economy, serving not only shipping but also industrial users and export markets. The current AFIF call for proposals is already open, with an application deadline of 24 January 2026, offering new opportunities for hydrogen infrastructure developers and zero-emission mobility solution providers.
Hyliko Unveils Second-Generation Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Trucks with Range Up to 600 Kilometres
French company Hyliko presented its second generation of heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks at Solutrans 2025, developed by retrofitting diesel tractors. The Hy T44 2nd Edition models are built on Renault Trucks chassis and draw on more than 300,000 km of commercial operation accumulated by the first-generation vehicles in 2024. The new trucks deliver up to 600 km of range at 35 tonnes (500 km at 44 tonnes) and average consumption of about 7 kg of hydrogen (H₂) per 100 km, while Hyliko aims for availability levels above 95%. A 3900 mm wheelbase supports the use of standard semi-trailers, and the lineup now includes 4×2 road tractors as well as 6×2 and 6×4 rigid trucks designed for long-haul and intensive operations.
The second generation, currently undergoing certification, integrates a combined electric motor with transmission, two submerged 90 kWh NMC battery packs, a more efficient Toyota V2.5 fuel cell, and an optimized cooling system. Hyliko is also developing a “construction” version adapted for harsh conditions and hard-to-access worksites, with all trucks retrofitted at the company’s plant in Saint-Priest (near Lyon) using technologies sourced from a local ecosystem of partner companies. According to CEO Owarit Trouen, these extended-range, highly reliable, zero-emission trucks cover a broader range of applications than battery-electric trucks and offer both a practical short-term and long-term alternative for transport and logistics companies.
https://www.sustainabletruckvan.com/hyliko-solutrans-2025-new-gen-hydrogen-trucks/
China Makes Green Hydrogen a Priority in New Five-Year Plan with Large-Scale Projects and Pipelines
China is accelerating the development of green hydrogen after Beijing confirmed its support for the sector in the upcoming Five-Year Plan for 2026–2030. Regulators in Inner Mongolia have approved a 5.2 billion yuan project to produce around 90,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, while in Hebei province construction has begun on a 1,000-kilometre pipeline capable of transporting more than 1.5 million tonnes of hydrogen per year from the energy hub of Zhangjiakou to the steelmaking centre of Tangshan. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy to electrolyse water, is crucial for reducing emissions in steelmaking and the chemical industry, although high costs have slowed development in many other regions globally. In contrast, the Chinese government supports the technology through pilot projects and access to carbon credits, making financing easier.
Chinese energy companies have responded with more than 500 new hydrogen projects in 2025 alone, representing total investments of around 221 billion yuan (€26.98 billion) and nearly 18 gigawatts of installed capacity. Demand, however, lags behind: of the 44,000 tonnes of new capacity commissioned last year, actual production increased by only 11,000 tonnes, indicating that many facilities operate far below full potential. Nevertheless, BloombergNEF analysis forecasts that China’s green hydrogen capacity will reach 1.2 million tonnes annually by 2030, up from 125,000 tonnes at the end of 2024, driven by growing demand for green fuels and energy in refining and the coal-to-chemicals sector.
