Help center

By trailer
The most common way hydrogen is delivered to fueling stations is by pressurized trailer transport. Hydrogen is compressed to 200-500 bar and delivered by special trucks. Trailer transport is state of the art today. However, quantities are limited, and transportation costs depend on many variables, such as fuel prices or tolls.
 
Another trailer option is LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier) technology, where the hydrogen is chemically bound to an organic carrier. The advantage of LOHC, in addition to its high level of safety, is that existing liquid fuel distribution infrastructure can be used for hydrogen. The technology is still at an early stage of maturity. H2 MOBILITY is testing LOHC.
 
In order to be able to transport at least a larger amount of H2, hydrogen can also be delivered in liquefied form by trailer. For this purpose it is cooled down to -253°C. This process is already industrially established and is also used on a technical scale for other gases (e.g. LNG). However, it is associated with evaporation losses as the H2 heats up during the journey and high additional costs.
 
By pipeline
Hydrogen pipelines are a cheaper option for high hydrogen sales in the long term, e.g. by converting natural gas pipelines. H2 MOBILITY is already testing pipeline delivery.
 
Electrolysis at the filling station
Transportation of H2 can be eliminated if the hydrogen is produced directly at the filling station. In addition to sufficient space, this requires that renewable energy is generated at or near the site and that local hydrogen sales are sufficiently high.
 

H2 MOBILITY Germany creates the conditions for clean, quiet and uncomplicated hydrogen mobility without restrictions: We build and operate a public hydrogen refueling station network that allows light to medium H2 commercial vehicles (e.g. vans, buses, trucks, garbage collection vehicles), but also H2 passenger cars to be on the road in an electro-mobile way without range restrictions and with short refueling times. With H2 MOBILITY SERVICES, H2 MOBILITY Deutschland also supports third parties in the planning, construction, and operation of H2 refueling stations. 

At all stations, cars and light commercial vehicles can refuel with 700 bar and a demand of 5 kg (in some cases also up to 8 kg) of hydrogen.  
To ensure that the switch to hydrogen in the transportation sector is a success, we are now expanding our existing infrastructure to include 350-bar refueling interfaces for buses, trucks and other commercial vehicles at strategically appropriate locations in line with demand.  
Want to know where H2 MOBILITY hydrogen refueling stations are located? The H2.LIVE platform provides real-time information on the current status of our stations and the entire European hydrogen refueling network as a website and app. 

With H2 MOBILITY SERVICES, we pool our knowledge and experience in all operational tasks, including network planning, approval, procurement, construction and operation of hydrogen refuelling stations. We offer you holistic services from project development to the operation of your hydrogen refueling station. With us as partner, you can handle an hydrogen refueling station project from A to Z or take advantage of individual services.
If you operate a fleet of vehicles yourself, for example in public transport, waste disposal or logistics, we will also be happy to support you in converting your fleet to hydrogen propulsion.

You want more information about hydrogen or the hydrogen infrastructure? Do you have questions or suggestions? Then feel free to send us an e-mail!

– General enquiries
– Enquiries about billing & invoicing
– Press enquiries
– Interest in new station or station services

Refuelling hydrogen is basically very simple. To familiarise yourself with the refuelling process, we recommend watching this short video. Our hydrogen stations are similar, but from different manufacturers with small differences.

This is how the refueling process works in general:
1. Authorization:
First, you must authorize yourself at the hydrogen refueling station. Authorization can be done at all our stations with the H2 MOBILITY Card. (Information on if authorization method are available at a selected station can be found in the station profile on H2.LIVE).
Depending on the configuration of your authorization medium, you may be asked to enter a PIN code, the current mileage or the license plate number of your vehicle as part of the authorization process.

2. Withdrawal the fuel nozzle:
After you have successfully authorized yourself at the hydrogen refueling station, please remove the fuel nozzle by lifting it upwards out of the slot and then moving it away in a downward direction. After you have opened the fuel tank flap and removed the tank lid, the dispenser nozzle can be placed on the vehicle’s tank nozzle.
Two different couplings can be installed on our stations. Refueling instructions for them can be found here as PDF file: WEH/Walther.

3. Locking the nozzle:
Make sure that the locking ring is snapped forward on the tank coupling. Always check that the fuel nozzle is properly locked into place.

4. Start of the refueling process:
You can then start the refuelling process by pressing the green button on the dispenser. Don’t be startled – there is a test surge at the beginning, as the system tests whether the connection is secure and how much hydrogen is still in the tank.

5. Termination of the refueling process:
The refuelling process ends automatically and the green button lights up or stops blinking. Now you can release the locking device by activating the small crossbar on the fuel nozzle lever or by pressing the white button on the fuel coupling’s locking ring and pulling the ring towards you.

6 Re-hook the tank nozzle:
Hang the dispenser back into place, going from the top down. Please check that it is correctly engaged, otherwise the system will not be able to complete the refuelling process and prepare for the next refuelling. Now just close the fuel filler flap, take the receipt and enjoy your emission-free ride!

The non-green hydrogen in our station network is still obtained from natural gas or is the by-product from the chemical industry, which would otherwise remain unused.  
 
Until now, the proportion of green hydrogen in our station network was certified to CMS 70. With the legal certainty that has arisen at EU level that green hydrogen must be produced from renewable energy, we have set ourselves this standard exclusively for hydrogen procurement in our station network.  
 
By 2028, our goal is to convert the H2 MOBILITY station network completely to green, i.e. renewable, hydrogen according to the EU standard. 
 
This hydrogen not only makes a decisive contribution to further reducing emissions, it can also be credited in greenhouse gas quota trading, which in perspective makes it inexpensive for you as customers.  
 
Regional green hydrogen sources are required so that our stations can obtain green hydrogen. These are currently under construction and H2 MOBILITY is already in exchange with future hydrogen producers. As soon as sources come on stream, surrounding filling stations will be supplied with them.  
 
Recently, the first supply agreements for green, i.e. renewable hydrogen, were concluded for the stations in Berg near Hof and Dresden. From 2024 we will be offering climate-friendly hydrogen here in accordance with EU directives. Further stations will follow. 

We need your feedback to improve our service!
Please use the “Give feedback” button in the H2.LIVE app or send us an email for requests, criticism or suggestions regarding individual H2 MOBILITY stations. Thank you!

By switching to hydrogen, you not only make an important contribution to zero-emission transport, but also fulfil important legal requirements and changing customer demands, and benefit from possible subsidies. With H2 MOBILITY you have a competent partner who will be happy to advise and support you in the implementation.

Our public hydrogen refueling station network offers an easy entry into hydrogen mobility without high investment costs. If there is not yet a refueling station in your area, but you can ensure a corresponding demand by investing in your H2 fleet, we will check if we can build a new station in your region. We would be happy to examine your individual case and draw up a possible cooperation concept together. You can reach us with your enquiry via email.

We know that the switch to alternative drives is associated with major challenges for fleet operators. Feel free to send us an email so that we can provide you with the best possible support from our experienced team.

Hydrogen is a gas with a long history. Discovered in 1766 by the English chemist Henry Cavendish, it has been used as an industrial gas for over 100 years. Today, it is used in many industrial and technical processes. When it comes to safety, hydrogen is often the subject of prejudices. In fact, hydrogen even has safety advantages over other fuels. Hydrogen (H2) is the lightest known element – about 14 times lighter than air. H2 forms an ignitable mixture with oxygen in a wide range (4 vol. % to 77 vol. %) –an explosive mixture with oxygen (oxyhydrogen gas)  forms at a concentration of 18 % and above. Hydrogen is non-toxic and cannot contaminate soils, the atmosphere or humans. In the event that hydrogen catches fire, the rate of combustion is relatively high. No smoke or fumes are produced unless other substances are burned.

While there is an abundance of pure hydrogen in the seething interior of the sun and in the vastness of space, on earth it is only present in bound form.  
 
Most of the hydrogen produced today is still produced as a by-product or co-product in chemical industry processes and is also consumed by the chemical industry. On an industrial scale, hydrogen is still mainly produced by reforming natural gas. A process that also releases CO2. 
 
For a long time, it was not defined in the European Union what exactly is meant by green hydrogen. There were and still are different interpretations or certifications, e.g. the CMS-70 certificate, which is awarded by TÜV Süd.   
 
Since this year, there is clear clarity at the EU level through the Delegated Acts of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) on the definition of green hydrogen. RED II provides the legal framework for the development of renewable energies in all economic sectors of the EU and is thus a central regulatory instrument for defining the criteria for the production of green H2. It states: Only hydrogen produced with renewable electricity under certain conditions is green hydrogen. 

Fuel-cell vehicles are characterised by short refuelling times, long ranges, and powerful acceleration. They enable zero-emissions mobility for the purposes of a sustainable energy transition. Mobility powered by hydrogen and fuel cells is not only a safe bet when it comes to climate protection. It’s clear that handling hydrogen requires responsible handling — after all, it contains sufficient energy to propel a vehicle at high speed.

Safety during transport and storage
Hydrogen is transported in specially designed hydrogen trailers, using pressure levels of 200 bar, 300 bar or 500 bar. hydrogen is subject to the regulations for the transport of dangerous goods (ADR). This means that the transport vehicles used, as well as the drivers, must meet specified requirements. Alternatively, hydrogen can also be transported in cryogenic, liquid form in special, highly insulated tank trucks. In some parts of Germany, there are also hydrogen pipelines through which large quantities of hydrogen gas are transported to the customer. There are various ways of storing hydrogen at the refueling station, depending on the design of the hydrogen refueling station, and the volume dispensed daily. Today’s facilities most commonly store hydrogen in a gaseous state at pressures of 45 bar or 200 bar. Storage in a cryogenic, liquefied state (-253 °C) is also possible.

Safety during refuelling
The hydrogen fuel pump communicates with the vehicle via an infrared interface. The vehicle has a communication interface directly next to the tank nozzle, which provides the refueling station with data on pressure and temperature in the tank. This data is compared with the measurements taken at the refueling station. If there are certain deviations, the service station interrupts or stops refuelling in order to check the reason for the deviation. In addition, the vehicle can stop the refuelling process – an additional safety feature that does not exist for any other fuel. The refuelling line connection to the vehicle is a so called ‘closed connection’ meaning: No hydrogen escapes during the refuelling process – otherwise the vehicle could not be refilled. It’s very similar with bicycle tyres: if you don’t have a good seal and the air blows past the valve, the tyre doesn’t fill up. To prevent this happening at the hydrogen refueling station, the station first checks the fit of the nozzle and the tightness of the line. If one of the two is not right, the refuelling process will not start. The station uses a control system to ensure that the vehicle is full, but not overfilled. As an additional safety measure, overpressure valves are installed in the vehicle tank to reliably limit the pressure. After refuelling, the nozzle and the tank hose are “depressurised”: The hydrogen is fed back to the station. Only a very small and therefore harmless amount of hydrogen remains at the nozzle – about one third of a shot glass.

Safety in the vehicle
In terms of safety, hydrogen-powered vehicles are no different from conventional means of transport. This has been demonstrated by independent test services such as Germany’s TÜV in various crash tests and test series. Even if hydrogen is highly flammable, there is no increased risk in the event of an accident. Rather, hydrogen-powered vehicles are safer than conventional gasoline engines – because hydrogen doesn’t explode. A leak in the hydrogen tank is very unlikely. And even if a leak should occur, the sensors detect the escaping hydrogen. The vehicle is automatically switched off and all safety valves are closed. The hydrogen tank is tested at 2.25 times the permitted operating pressure – i. e. a 700-bar-tank must withstand a pressure of at least 1 400 bar and has high safety reserves in the event of an accident. The hydrogen tank is extremely resistant to internal and external pressure as well as to fire.

The vehicle tanks of fuel cell vehicles are classified as Type III or Type IV. Type III vehicle tanks consist of an aluminum container encased in carbon fiber. Type IV vehicle tanks use a plastic container instead of the aluminum container. This makes them lighter, but they also heat up more during refueling than Type III vehicle tanks. When refueling heavy-duty vehicles with Type IV tanks, it is therefore necessary to pre-cool the hydrogen. To ensure that all vehicles can refuel with us without restriction in the future, we are currently equipping all H2 MOBILITY 350-bar hydrogen refueling stations with pre-cooling. If you are a user, please check the location descriptions to see whether a station is suitable for refueling your vehicle.