Commission promotes take-up of hydrogen cars and the development of hydrogen technologies
The European Commission has adopted two proposals today that will mark a step forward in the development and marketing
of clean and safe hydrogen vehicles.
The first is the setting up of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative (JTI), an ambitious industry-led
integrated programme of Research, technology development and demonstration activities.
This Public-Private Partnership driven by European industry will be implemented over the next 6 years with a financial
contribution from the EU of € 470 million, to be matched by the private sector.
The JTI should accelerate the development of hydrogen technologies to the point of commercial take-off between 2010 and
2020.
Secondly, a number of hydrogen cars are already ripe for market introduction today. Thus, the Commission proposes to
simplify their approval so that they will be seen more often on Europe's streets. Both proposals will now be considered
by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.
Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry, said: "The introduction of hydrogen
vehicles has the potential to make Europe's air cleaner and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels. Setting common
standards will support the introduction of these vehicles and ensure high safety for citizens. It will also boost the
competitiveness of European manufacturers."
Commissioner Janez Potočnik, responsible for Science and Research, said: "Europe is facing major challenges to secure
its energy supply, while combating climate change, preserving the environment, and maintaining a competitive economy.
Technologies such as fuel cells and hydrogen can help us tick all the boxes. The Joint Technology Initiative for Fuel
Cells and Hydrogen will be a major step in bringing about the research, development and deployment programme that Europe
needs to bring these technologies to the market. EU funds matched by the industrial sector will bring a sorely needed
billion euro to kick-start a real change."
EU wide approval of hydrogen vehicles
At the moment, hydrogen vehicles are not included in the EU vehicle type-approval system. This results in complicated
and costly approval procedures and hinders vehicles being placed on the market on a uniform basis throughout the EU.
Today's proposal will introduce these vehicles into the type-approval framework. Furthermore, hydrogen has different
characteristics from conventional fuels. The proposal will guarantee that all hydrogen vehicles put on the market in the
EU are at least as safe as conventional vehicles.
Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier. When used as fuel either in combustion motors or in fuel-cell systems, it does not
produce any carbon emissions (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons or particulates). Thus, using
hydrogen will contribute to the improvement of air quality in cities.
Moreover, no greenhouse gases are produced from motor vehicles, although care will have to be taken that the production
of hydrogen itself does not lead to an increase in CO2 emissions. This can be achieved by producing hydrogen from
non-fossil energy sources or by CO2 sequestration.
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative
The second proposal is to create a public/private partnership for research, a Joint Technology Initiative, to benefit
the development of hydrogen and fuel cells. The JTI will receive €470 million from the EU's 7th Framework Programme, an
amount that will be matched by the industrial partners.
Fuel cells are very efficient energy conversion devices. Fuel cells can be applied in a variety of products such as
mobile phones and laptops, cars, buses, ships and planes, as well as stationary heat and power generators in the
domestic and industrial sector.
However, a number of technical and non-technical barriers must still be addressed before these technologies can become
widely commercially available. They include, for example, cost and durability of fuel cells, sustainable production of
hydrogen, and safe and efficient distribution and storage of hydrogen, particularly for mobile applications.
These two proposals adopted today by the European Commission on fuel cells and hydrogen technologies will offer long
term solutions for sustainable energy and transport systems.
These will benefit society by mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and toxic pollutants, and reducing
dependency on diminishing oil and gas reserves.
ENDS