Austria is losing hydrogen hope: filling stations will close soon!

Austria is losing hydrogen hope: filling stations will close soon!

In Austria, the last public hydrogen filling station will be decommissioned on September 30, 2025. Hydrogen filling stations in Vienna and four other cities were previously closed. The closures are due to a lack of demand, with just over 60 hydrogen cars currently registered in the country. These vehicles are mainly used by companies like OMV. The company says the ongoing costs of operating these stations are too high to remain profitable. The withdrawal from the hydrogen market is becoming increasingly clear, as ÖkoNews reports.

However, the situation in Austria only reflects part of the larger context. While hydrogen plays a minor role in the transport sector, it is seen in Germany as a potential energy source of the future. According to Fraunhofer, only a few hundred hydrogen cars are currently active on German roads, even though the federal government is pursuing ambitious climate goals that require faster Require the spread of hydrogen vehicles.

Challenges in the hydrogen sector

A key problem that is emerging with the spread of hydrogen vehicles is the cost structure in the logistics sector. Studies show that the total cost of ownership for fuel cell trucks is often higher than for battery-powered trucks. This makes it difficult for hydrogen trucks to enter the market, especially in areas such as heavy-duty transportation. Cheap hydrogen prices could create a niche, but market share remains uncertain. Biofuels and synthetic fuels could represent possible alternatives in the near future, although their availability is limited, as Fraunhofer ISI notes.

In addition, the optimization of technologies such as fuel cells and electrolysers is necessary in order to remain competitive in the hydrogen sector. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has therefore developed a hydrogen roadmap that advances both research efforts and infrastructure development. Regional hydrogen alliances, such as the H2 Innovation Laboratory Heilbronn-Franken, help to develop and promote hydrogen concepts. In Austria, however, it remains to be hoped that, despite the closure of filling stations, the hydrogen market can be revived through new technologies and improved infrastructure.