Hydrogen for cars is already dead: Shell and Motive close their filling stations in the UK

The use ofhydrogen as a vector to generate electricity, and thus move the so-called “hydrogen cars” an already dying practice. A handful of car manufacturers continue to experiment, and to propose models that work precisely with the fuel cellsbut the network of filling stations has never really taken off, very few cars have been sold, and now some companies that have invested in the infrastructure are starting to slip away.

the case of Shell, among the most active in the search for renewal, and for this reason recently linked to the opening of numerous ultrafast charging stations. The same oil and gas company had also embarked on the path in the world of hydrogen, but recently closed its H2 stations. It seems that the reasons are quite simple: the unprofitable sector.

There are too few cars really available to customers, most of the time very expensive, and for this reason there are really small numbers, compared to high investments, and an equally onerous supply cost. Shell hydrogen stations, three in all, were in partnership with the operator Motivein turn owned by ITM Powera company specializing in electrolysis, the technology to produce green hydrogen starting from water and electricity.

Each hydrogen refueling station costs over $ 2 million to buildand operates, and would have operated for many years, at a loss. Motive itself has closed a fourth refueling point for the same reasons. There are therefore only 11 hydrogen stations left in the UK, compared to 57,000 charging points for electric cars. After all, the sales numbers speak for themselves. The two best known hydrogen cars, the Hyundai Nexo and the Toyota Mirai, have sold 275 and 209 units respectively in the UK. Forecasts for the future, of the report Energy Transition Outlook 2022 they are equally negative, with 2050 expected to see an 85% share of electric cars, against only one 0.01% hydrogen car.

There is a twist that still leaves the door of this technology open, that is heavy transport. Shell and Motive would also be interested, with the possibility of creating large refueling hubs, but only dedicated to fuel cell trucks, which may still have development.