Hydrogen void: Gas stations in Berlin and Brandenburg affected!

Hydrogen void: Gas stations in Berlin and Brandenburg affected!

In the last few weeks, many drivers of hydrogen vehicles in Berlin and Brandenburg have had significant problems because the filling stations could hardly be supplied. The origin of the difficulties lies in an incident that occurred at the end of August in the Leuna chemical park. In this incident, a deflagration occurred on August 26th, which meant that hydrogen could no longer be delivered from the region.

Sebastian Daubert, a pensioner from Potsdam, is one of the drivers severely affected. "I've had virtually no access to hydrogen since September 10th. I had to check my options every day, but there was simply nothing to get," says the 71-year-old. “Without my car, I can’t get to the important appointments I have.”

Origin of the delivery bottlenecks

After the incident in Leuna, the hydrogen filling stations remained empty for a long time because they are mainly supplied from this region. According to information from H2 Mobility's press spokeswoman, Daniela Dietz, it is still uncertain when the supply will be fully restored. “We have taken some measures to defuse the situation, but there is no clear end to the problems in sight,” she said.

The incident in Leuna was a dangerous situation when a leak on a tanker truck led to a meter-high flame. Videos from the fire department show thick smoke rising, highlighting the seriousness of the incident. The Linde company, which is responsible for hydrogen production, then temporarily shut down the affected tankers. Although the change in the production of hydrogen has not been prevented, there are currently difficulties in delivering it.

Difficult situation for hydrogen vehicles

The current situation is extremely frustrating for drivers of hydrogen vehicles. H2 Mobility, which operates most of the hydrogen refueling stations in the region, is actively looking for new suppliers, but the overall market is very limited. “Most manufacturers have long-term contracts and therefore cannot react flexibly,” explains Dietz. A complete return to normality therefore remains uncertain.

The popularity of hydrogen cars remains despite the current challenges. There are currently only around 2,070 hydrogen-powered vehicles registered across Germany, which shows, however, that this technology still has the potential to transform mobility as a climate-friendly alternative. Paasch, who chose his hydrogen car as an environmentally friendly option, is disappointed: "I spent over 700 euros on a rental car because I depend on my car. That much for environmentally friendly driving? That's not the point!"

The Senate Department for Transport provides support and communicates regularly with H2 Mobility in order to improve the situation. Hydrogen vehicle drivers are also encouraged to use the H2 Mobility app to receive up-to-date information about the availability of hydrogen at filling stations. The app provides an overview of all hydrogen filling stations in Europe, regardless of whether they are operated by H2 Mobility or not.

The problems and the search for solutions continue; it remains to be seen when the hydrogen supply will be at a stable level again. In the meantime, both drivers and gas station operators are in a tense situation, while everyone involved hopes for an improvement soon.