The rise of hydrogen in road, rail, and air transport

As the global decarbonisation drive intensifies, hydrogen continues to edge into the spotlight across multiple modes of transport, albeit at a slower pace than other clean energy technologies. 

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Hydrogen Review 2024 and the Hydrogen Council’s Hydrogen Insights 2024 paint a picture of steady, if uneven, progress in deploying hydrogen technologies across transportation sectors – from road to aviation. With Asia leading the charge and pockets of innovation emerging elsewhere, hydrogen is increasingly seen as a credible low-emissions fuel, especially for heavy-duty applications.

In Africa, Namibia and South Africa have trialled hydrogen powered vehicles, with Ethiopia more recently (April 2025) launching the Hydrogen Trucks initiative for the Berbera Corridor. The Berbera Corridor, which connects Ethiopia’s landlocked Addis Ababa with Somaliland’s port city of Berbera, is expected to become a major regional trade and logistics hub, with trade volumes expected to increase sixfold by 2050, according to the World Bank. 

Namibia’s hydrogen transport drive 

Hydrogen-powered transportation in Africa, particularly South Africa and Namibia, is gaining traction as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, with various initiatives and projects underway. In May 2024, two dual-fuel trucks were fuelled with locally produced hydrogen at the N$3,5 billion (around $196 million) Cleanergy Solutions Namibia facility at Walvis Bay.

 The facility uses only solar energy for the on-site production of green hydrogen and will be used for hydrogen-powered trucks, port equipment, railway applications, and small ships. Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, CMB.TECH, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and Namport also plan on launching the first hydrogen-powered ship in Africa. 

Building on the successful collaboration between CMB.TECH and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the focus now shifts to the development of a Multifunctional Port Utility Vessel (MPHUV) powered by dual-fuel hydrogen engines. The two entities previously partnered to successfully launch the Hydrotug and the world’s first multimodal hydrogen refuelling station in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges

CMB.TECH said that given the ability of ports to act as hubs for hydrogen technology implementation and efforts to reduce carbon emissions, the Port of Walvis Bay and Namport are ideal partners to operate Africa’s first hydrogen vessel. Additionally, having started three years ago, the project aligns with Namibia’s Vision 2030 for economic diversification. 

South Africa: OEMS  test driving hydrogen-powered cars, trucks

In South Africa, BMW Group South Africa, Anglo American Platinum, and Sasol South Africa have previously partnered to develop green hydrogen mobility. Volvo also announced that it is launching hydrogen-powered trucks.

In October 2023, BMW, Anglo American and Sasol signed a collaboration agreement that will bring hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and supporting hydrogen refuelling technology to South Africa. 

In terms of the agreement, which was signed at the 2023 South African Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town, BMW will provide the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, while Sasol will supply the green hydrogen and mobile refueller. 

These vehicles will operate on South African roads as part of an international trial to understand how the BMW iX5 Hydrogen performs in real-world conditions, following four years of development work. 

Anglo American, which provides platinum group metals (PGMs) used in FCEVs and has been investing in hydrogen technologies for many years, will work closely with BMW and Sasol to help develop a local green hydrogen mobility ecosystem. Subsequently, in February 2024, the companies launched the first trial of a pilot fleet of BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEVs in South Africa.

 In May 2025, Volvo Trucks announced that it is developing trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen. On-road tests with trucks using hydrogen in combustion engines will begin in 2026, and the commercial launch is planned towards the end of this decade. 

Eric Parry, Senior Manager of Sustainable Solutions at Volvo Trucks South Africa, highlighted several green hydrogen projects that are in various stages of maturity, stating: “Some notable examples are the Hydrogen Valley feasibility study conducted by the DSI with partner companies, as well as the Boegoebaai Port and Green Hydrogen Cluster in the Northwest Province.” 

He believes that projects like these will enable the introduction and testing of hydrogen fuelled commercial vehicles in South Africa. In February 2025, the government and its research partners published the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Guideline for green hydrogen projects and the South African Green Hydrogen Potential Atlas. 

Developed over two years in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and GFA Consulting Group, these mechanisms will provide critical guidance for responsible and sustainable green hydrogen development, said the government.

Ethiopia’s bold hydrogen ecosystem plan

In April 2025, the non-profit continent-wide hydrogen association African Hydrogen Partnership (AHP) launched two pivotal initiatives in Addis Ababa: the Hydrogen Trucks for the Berbera Corridor and the African Natural Hydrogen Atlas. Ethiopia, which spends around $4 billion annually on fossil fuel imports, sees green hydrogen as a strategic solution. 

The government took the bold step in January 2024 by becoming the world’s first country to ban the import of internal combustion engine vehicles. The distance from the Port of Berbera to Addis Ababa is nearly 1,000 kilometres.

The Berbera Corridor, which is a well-constructed roadway intended for heavy-load, long-distance land transportation, links Addis Ababa with the Port of Berbera. Noting that Addis Ababa is situated at an elevation of 2,500 metres, the AHP said that transportation on the western sections of the corridor requires significant energy due to the mountainous landscape. 

According to AHP, the hydrogen-powered trucks will be able to cover this distance without the need for refuelling. “Alternative options, such as electric rail systems or charging stations for battery-powered [electric] trucks, would necessitate substantial investments, time and effort in infrastructure development and it is unlikely that battery powered trucks will be able to compete commercially or physically when it comes to transporting heavy loads between Berbera and Addis, in the foreseeable future,” said the AHP. 

Emphasising that hydrogen heavy-duty trucks will be ideally suited to this considerable challenge, the AHP advised that: “What is proposed is a complex project which will also involve the production of electricity and hydrogen, as well as the acquisition of hydrogen trucks and their refuelling and associated logistics.”

Globally, heavy-duty road transport drives growth 

The IEA Global Hydrogen Review 2024 highlights that hydrogen use in road transport accelerated markedly in 2023, growing by around 55% year-on-year, driven primarily by the deployment of FCEV trucks and buses in China. 

Despite this surge, hydrogen demand in the road transport sector remains modest, amounting to just 60 kilo-tonnes in 2023 – less than 0.1% of global hydrogen demand. China dominates the heavy-duty segment, accounting for roughly 95% of the global stock of fuel cell trucks, notes the report. 

By June 2024, there were more 12,000 hydrogen-powered trucks on the roads, more than doubling the pace of growth seen in buses and tripling that of passenger cars. Fuel cell bus stock also rose by nearly 25%, with China again responsible for over 75% of new additions

The report further notes that cities across Europe are following suit, expanding their fuel cell bus fleets – among them Barcelona, Bologna, Paris, and Cologne – citing cost-effectiveness and efficiency in urban settings as the main drivers for growing interest.

Korea and Japan continue to focus on light-duty hydrogen vehicles. However, growth in this segment is slowing. Global stock of fuel cell passenger cars increased by under 15% in 2023, falling further to below 5% growth in the first half of 2024. Sales have flagged, and the total global stock of all types of fuel cell electric vehicles reached around 93,000 by mid-2024.

Infrastructure growth lags ambition

A considerable bottleneck to the uptake of these vehicles is the lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The IEA reports around 1,200 hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) in operation globally, with China leading at over 400, followed by Europe (280), Korea (180), and Japan (170). 

However, the expansion rate has slowed. While China added more than 100 new stations in 2023, Europe and North America have seen a decline, with North America recording a sharp 40% fall in operational HRS. According to the Hydrogen Council Insights 2024, South Korea and Japan aim to expand their networks to over 600 stations each by 2030. 

In the EU, the recently adopted Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates a hydrogen refuelling station every 200 kilometres along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), potentially adding 400 stations.

The link between hydrogen vehicle adoption and refuelling infrastructure is evident. South Korea and Japan dominate the light-duty FCEV market, while China leads in hydrogen trucks and buses. 

The shift towards heavier vehicles, with higher fuelling requirements, underscores the need for scalable, high-capacity refuelling stations.

Aviation and shipping take tentative steps 

The IEA report further shows that in aviation, hydrogen’s near-term role is concentrated in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). These synthetic fuels offer a drop-in replacement with minimal infrastructure changes. European airlines are leading the way: Air France-KLM invested $4.7 million in DG Fuels for future SAF purchases, while Norwegian Air Shuttle, Cargolux, and International Airlines Group (IAG) have entered agreements for over 900 kiloton of synthetic aviation fuels collectively. 

Hydrogen-based marine fuels are also gaining attention as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) pushes for zero or near-zero emissions fuels to represent 5–10% of international shipping by 2030. 

The vessel orderbook reflects this shift: as at September 2024, there were over 290 methanol-powered ships on order, nearly 30 for ammonia, and 30 hydrogen vessels – mostly ferries, cruise ships, and tugs. 

Operationally, several hydrogen vessels are already in service. China launched its first hydrogen fuel cell ship in 2023, while Norway’s hydrogen ferry and the Netherlands’ fuel cell barge demonstrate real-world use. Japan is exploring hybrid hydrogen-biodiesel systems, and a US ferry has entered commercial operations following a six-month pilot. 

In April 2025, Emirates SkyCargo announced it would add five hydrogen-powered trucks to its fleet, with plans to refuel at two dedicated stations in Dubai. The trucks, capable of carrying 28 tonnes, will service routes between Dubai World Central and Dubai International Airport. The project, developed in partnership with Allied Transport Company, is expected to significantly cut CO₂ emissions and enhance air quality.

Rail not quite on the hydrogen track… yet 

Hydrogen rail trials are underway in countries including Japan, India, Austria, and the US, informs the IEA report. A total of 15 trials since 2018 have explored hydrogen’s suitability for local, intercity, and freight rail applications. 

Hydrogen trains have set performance records travelling over 2,800 kilometres on a single refuelling – but deployment is mixed. Battery electric alternatives appear to be gaining the upper hand. 
In Germany and Austria, early hydrogen train adopters have shifted to battery-electric options. Hydrogen rail tenders in Romania and the Netherlands failed to attract bidders, further signalling a tilt towards electrification as the dominant decarbonisation strategy for rail. 

 

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