Automotive E-ssentials

Record number of newly opened hydrogen refuelling stations in 2020 

In 2020, 107 hydrogen refuelling stations went into operation worldwide, more than ever before. 29 new hydrogen stations were opened in Europe, 72 in Asia, and 6 in North America. This is the result of the 13th annual assessment of H2stations.org, an information service of Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik (LBST). Four countries showed a particular dynamic in expansion: Germany extended its network by 14 hydrogen stations, China by 18, Korea by 26, and Japan by 28. 

At the end of 2020, 553 hydrogen refuelling stations were in operation worldwide. 7 additional stations were added in the first few weeks of this year and concrete plans are already in place for 225 additional refuelling station locations.

Europe had 200 hydrogen stations at the end of the last year, 100 of which are in Germany. France is still second in Europe with 34 operating stations, and with 38 planned hydrogen stations it currently shows the strongest growth in Europe.

However, while the other European countries focus on publicly accessible passenger car refuelling stations, most of the French stations aim at the refuelling of buses and delivery vehicle fleets. A significantly increasing number is also projected in the Netherlands, where the number of planned stations has increased to 23. In line with plans, the ninth refuelling station was recently opened in Switzerland.

At the end of 2020, there were 275 hydrogen stations in Asia, 142 of them in Japan, and 60 in Korea. The 69 Chinese hydrogen stations in the database are used almost exclusively for the refuelling of buses or truck fleets.

The majority of the 75 hydrogen stations in North America continues to be located in California with 49 operating stations. Four new refuelling stations were also added in 2020, and the number of dedicated planned station was significantly increased to 43.

For the first time - at least geographically - Africa is represented in the statistics through plans to build a hydrogen station on the island of Tenerife.

Interactive location maps and individual evaluations
The H2stations.org (www.H2stations.org) website uses interactive maps to globally list all hydrogen refuelling stations in operation, planned, or already shut down including a summary on recent changes. With its information on already closed stations, H2stations.org is unique in also providing a view on the development history of the hydrogen infrastructure. Statistics on the development of the infrastructure complete the range of information.

The website draws on an extensive database which has been maintained and continuously updated since 2005 with new stations as well as with extensive additional information on already existing sites. All in all, it contains detailed information on meanwhile more than 1300 refuelling stations globally. Despite the increasing maintenance effort, LBST will still continue to provide basic information free of charge for non-commercial use. LBST offers commercial users to license the data including further detailed information, regular reports on new developments, technologies and markets, and bespoke analyses.

Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH, an associated company of TÜV SÜD AG, is an international expert consultant for sustainable energy and mobility. With its expertise bridging technologies, markets, and policy the company supports international clients from industry and politics with questions about technology, markets, strategy and sustainability. Large international companies trust LBST's reliable assessments of new developments and innovations in the fields of energy and mobility and appreciate its comprehensive competence especially in hydrogen. Over three decades of continuous experience from the interdisciplinary team of renowned experts form the basis of LBST's extensive expertise. For further information visit www.lbst.de.