German truck manufacturers and hydrogen council demand rapid expansion of hydrogen and charging infrastructure

At the IAA Transportation Media Summit in Frankfurt, leading European truck makers MAN Truck, Daimler Truck and Renault Trucks warned that the EU’s Euro‑7 emissions standards and the 2030 CO₂ reduction goals cannot be met without a rapid build‑out of hydrogen refueling and high‑power electric charging stations. The industry estimates that Europe would need 750‑800 new 350 kW truck charging points each month, as well as thousands of hydrogen stations, to keep total cost of ownership viable.

The National Hydrogen Council (NWR) has updated its German hydrogen demand forecast, projecting a total need of 275‑555 TWh by the late 2040s, with the chemical and steel sectors accounting for the largest share. The council cites restrictive regulatory frameworks and financing challenges as major obstacles that could stall projects across the value chain. It calls for EU and German policy measures that ensure sufficient, competitively priced hydrogen for industry and heavy‑duty transport, including buses and trucks, to meet climate targets.