Powering a better way. Berlin pilot shows the potential of hydrogen-fuelled passenger transport

With emissions from the transport sector rebounding on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, the mission for car manufacturers is clear – to deliver a cleaner mobility solution and improve the sustainability of passenger transport.

One such solution is hydrogen, which can be used to power fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Combined with oxygen to generate electricity, hydrogen produces no CO₂, only water; can be obtained from a wide range of resources; and is easy to store and deliver.

While there is no doubt that scaling hydrogen mobility offers significant promise, increasing market penetration is a bit of a ‘chicken and egg’ situation. Car manufacturers rely on supporting infrastructure like refuelling stations to drive consumer demand, while only the assurance of a guaranteed customer base helps justify investment in infrastructure.

Helping address the conundrum is H2 Moves Berlin, a two-year pilot programme launched in April 2023 by partners Anglo American, Toyota Germany, and the SafeDriver Group with ENNOO. Designed to demonstrate the everyday suitability of hydrogen electric vehicles, with up to 200 Toyota Mirai dedicated to the pilot, the programme’s launch marks the creation of Germany’s largest-ever hydrogen commercial passenger fleet – a sustainable and emission-free option for urban passengers. As well as demonstrating hydrogen’s viability to global policy makers, it aims to help raise the general public’s awareness of the benefits of hydrogen in everyday mobility.

“Hydrogen fuel cells are a key technology for emissions-free electric vehicles, which we need to drive the decarbonisation of transport,” says Benny Oeyen, Executive Head of Market Development, Platinum Group Metals, at Anglo American. “As a leading producer of fuel cell-enabling platinum, we are committed to supporting the adoption of hydrogen-fuelled mobility solutions across the entire industry. In doing so, we are making a concrete contribution to the emerging ecosystem of hydrogen transport.”

Berlin – a hub for hydrogen’s future

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is a high-profile city where hydrogen has the support of industry, academia, and government, as well as an implemented structure to accelerate the development and adoption of fuel cell and hydrogen technology. Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy, released in 2020, provides a coherent framework for the generation, transport and use of hydrogen, encouraging the relevant innovations and investment needed to ensure hydrogen’s viability, and for the country to position itself as a global frontrunner in the hydrogen space.

The availability of refuelling infrastructure is crucial and in January 2023, H2 MOBILITY Deutschland opened a fifth hydrogen station in Berlin, which will service the H2 Moves Berlin fleet. “Our passengers are already enthusiastic about the sustainable and comfortable mobility experience with hydrogen,” says Thomas Mohnke, Senior Executive Partner of the SafeDriver Group. “The drivers appreciate the combination of the driving performance of an electric car with the range and refuelling speed of a combustion engine. Such an offer for commercial passenger transport is unique in Germany.”

The benefits of hydrogen electric vehicles

Hydrogen cars such as the Toyota Mirai are powered by electric motors. The electricity used is produced from hydrogen via a fuel cell and is combined with a small lightweight battery as buffer storage. This eliminates long charging times, with refuelling only taking a few minutes – similar to cars powered by traditional petrol or diesel engines – and delivering long driving ranges (as much as 650km).
The second generation Mirai has been produced with a focus on design, driving quality, and eco-performance, with the aim of increasing its appeal beyond its sustainability credentials and creating a vehicle that people will be excited to own.

“H2 Moves Berlin opens a new chapter for emission-free mobility with hydrogen,” adds André Schmidt, President of Toyota Germany. “With this pilot project, we are not only expanding the range of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles in Berlin, but also demonstrating how suitable and efficient models like the Toyota Mirai are for everyday use, especially in commercial passenger transportation.”

About the project partners:

As a leading primary producer of PGMs, Anglo American is committed to finding and nurturing new possibilities for end uses of these precious metals. A fundamental part of this involves shaping collaborations with customers and partners to advance the development of technology that can help overcome some of the key barriers to a more widespread deployment of hydrogen-fuelled mobility.

Our partners in the H2 Moves Berlin project are Toyota Germany and the SafeDriver Group with ENNOO.

Toyota has long-standing expertise in fuel cell technology, having introduced the world’s first production of a hydrogen car.
SafeDriver Group with ENNOO offer high quality mobility solutions for passenger transportation.

Through this initiative, the project partners aim to help sustainable hydrogen transport achieve the breakthrough in Germany that our future needs. More information about H2 Moves Berlin is available here.