Japan’s Government is accelerating the take-up of zero carbon hydrogen by subsidising the fuel for its commercial road fleet.
News of the moves to offer a hydrogen fuel subsidy of US$4.84 per kg, for H2 fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles, has been widely reported in the country, including the Nikkei news agency.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, so has targeted six administrative regions with high demand.
The Fuelcellsworks website said: “The goal is to significantly narrow the cost gap with diesel fuel while enlisting local government support to increase adoption rates.”
The subsidies would apply at 90 refuelling stations in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Fukushima, Aichi, Hyogo, and Fukuoka prefectures.
They cover about three-quarters of the fuel price difference between hydrogen and diesel. For a large fuel cell truck, this translates to savings of around US$144 per tank. With Aichi Prefecture alone committed to deploying 7000 hydrogen-powered trucks and buses by 2030, it presents significant savings opportunities.
Earlier subsidies helped reduce vehicle purchase costs and building hydrogen stations.
Fuelcellsworks article here.
Meanwhile, car manufacturers BMW, Hyundai, and Toyota have launched a new coalition focused on accelerating hydrogen use in Australia.
The Hydrogen Transport Forum will aim to identify opportunities, align fleet and infrastructure deployment, and advocate for government support.
“By engaging with government, infrastructure providers, and hydrogen suppliers, the group aims to identify clusters of fleet demand, share data and project viability, advocate for funding and policy, and educate stakeholders about hydrogen’s potential,” the article said.
Full story here.