Prospects for developing hydrogen technology in the transport sector

Priority question for written answer  P-001322/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Bogdan Rzońca (ECR)

The technology of using hydrogen in transport is currently the least developed of all alternative fuels, and experts maintain that the commercial development stage for hydrogen propulsion technology should be with us in around 2040-2050. The increased use of alternative fuels will have an impact both on reducing the level of dependence on imports of raw materials from outside the EU and on limiting the damage caused by the transport sector to the environment.

Hydrogen fuel-cell technology is coming of age and is in use in cars, city buses, light commercial vehicles and vessels on inland waterways. Creating a broad-based hydrogen economy in the EU will be a long, costly process requiring – particularly in the first phase – investment in the billions. Its implementation will only be possible with financial and regulatory support at EU level.

• 1.What stage has implementation of alternative fuels for all kinds of transport reached in the EU, including the development of the necessary infrastructure for refuelling with hydrogen?
• 2.Will the Commission develop a legislative package for hydrogen in order to create a regulatory framework for the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for transport, and will it regulate the details of the functioning of this market?
• 3.What work has the Commission done to adapt the regulatory environment to innovations in support of the introduction of hydrogen technologies in transport?