H2Accelerate calls to maintain ambition for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure deployment in the AFIR review
8 July 20263 min read
Industry is developing a combined battery-electric and hydrogen-powered zero-emission solution
As reflected in the technology strategies of major European OEMs, the decarbonisation of Europe’s road freight sector will be delivered through a combined battery-electric and hydrogen-powered solution. To scale the deployment of zero-emission trucks in line with the targets set for vehicle manufacturers under the Heavy-Duty Vehicle CO₂ standards, a suitable pan-European refuelling and charging infrastructure network must be in place by the end of this decade. AFIR is the key EU policy mandating Member States to deliver this network and provides a common timeline for investment and deployment across the hydrogen trucking value chain. H2Accelerate calls to maintain ambition for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure deployment in the AFIR reviewWhile progress at a pan-European level is not yet on track, AFIR is already seeing success in driving infrastructure deployment in certain Member States. The Netherlands’ subsidy for hydrogen in mobility, SWiM, has supported the coordinated roll-out of trucks and infrastructure, enabling early investments in stations while limiting the risk of underutilisation. Following the success of SWiM, the German Federal Ministry for Transport implemented, in January 2026, a €220 million SWiM-like joint hydrogen refuelling station and truck subsidy scheme to deliver on its AFIR-mandated network.
As such, maintaining AFIR’s existing targets for zero-emission refuelling infrastructure is essential to provide regulatory certainty and help to secure investor confidence. At a minimum, the current level of ambition must be maintained, while targeted adaptations are recommended to ensure hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is better aligned with the operational needs of heavy-duty vehicles.
In the 2026 review of the AFIR regulation, members of the H2Accelerate collaboration call on the European Commission to:
Maintain mandatory targets for Member States on alternative fuel infrastructure deployment, in particular for hydrogen refuelling station deployment in urban nodes and along the core TEN-T network.
Support Member States to put in place effective schemes to stimulate the deployment of AFIR-compliant infrastructure.
Implement targeted adaptations to Article 6 to better align minimum hydrogen refuelling station requirements with the operational needs of the heavy-duty trucking sector, as identified by the Sustainable Transport Forum Hydrogen Sub-Group in 2025.
Hannah Bryson-Jones, Spokesperson for the H2Accelerate collaboration, said:
“AFIR is a cornerstone policy for the development of Europe’s zero-emission trucking ecosystem. Maintaining its current ambition reinforces the regulatory certainty needed to unlock investment in hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, support vehicle deployment, and give fleet operators the confidence to transition to zero-emission trucks.
With the right policy framework in place, Europe can build a reliable, interoperable refuelling network and remain on track towards a competitive, decarbonised road freight system.”
Any reduction in ambition risks sending a negative market signal, stalling investment, increasing costs for early movers, and jeopardising Europe’s road freight decarbonisation pathway. H2Accelerate members stand ready to support the European Commission and Member States in implementing AFIR.
The full position statement can be downloaded from the H2Accelerate website.
