Following the launch of its Learning Capsules series, the CyLH2 Valley project held its second session dedicated to the use of hydrogen in the mobility sector. The online webinar brought together European experts to discuss the current state of hydrogen-powered transport, real-world applications, and future pathways to scale deployment across Europe.
Designed as a knowledge-sharing platform for project partners, the session aimed to strengthen technical understanding and support informed decision-making within the Valley. It provided a comprehensive overview of hydrogen mobility, combining strategic perspectives with concrete operational experience from across Europe.
From strategy to deployment: hydrogen mobility in practice
The webinar opened with a keynote by Christophe Dubruque (Sales Mobility Team Leader – Lhyfe), who outlined the main challenges and opportunities shaping hydrogen mobility today. This was followed by an overview of ongoing European projects presented by Lisa Ruf (Associate Partner – ERM), highlighting the growing momentum behind hydrogen deployment across the continent.
A central part of the session was dedicated to four real-life use cases, showcasing advanced hydrogen mobility applications:
- Urban bus fleets: Barcelona’s deployment of 46 hydrogen buses demonstrates that the technology can already operate reliably on high-demand routes, maintaining full passenger capacity even under intensive conditions. The case was presented by Mario Canet Sabaté, Head of Innovation and Projects at TMB.
- Rail transport in challenging environments: In Lombardy, the H2iseO project aims at introducing 14 hydrogen trains on regional lines where battery-electric alternatives are not suitable, supported by dedicated hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure. The projects were presented by Stefano Erba, Chief Strategy Officer at FNM S.p.A.
- Hydrogen truck fleet deployment: Large-scale deployment of hydrogen-powered trucks is emerging as a key pathway to decarbonisation. This use case highlighted ongoing initiatives to deploy hydrogen truck fleets and develop the supporting refuelling ecosystem, presented by Charles Cambournac, Managing Director at Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility Germany.
- Retrofit to hydrogen vehicles: Retrofit solutions offer a practical pathway to decarbonise existing diesel fleets by converting vehicles to hydrogen-powered systems. This approach was presented by Alberto Parera, Lead R&D Fuel Cell Systems Engineer at EVARM.
Key insights from the session
Scaling hydrogen mobility will primarily depend on securing large and stable offtake, combined with fleet deployment at sufficient scale. Without this critical mass, investments remain difficult to justify and costs cannot be effectively reduced over time.
At the same time, participants consistently emphasized that hydrogen mobility technologies have already reached a significant level of technical maturity. Fuel cell buses, trucks, and refuelling infrastructure are no longer experimental solutions, but proven systems capable of operating reliably even in demanding, real-world conditions.
However, technology alone is not enough. The success of hydrogen mobility projects relies heavily on operational factors, including the availability and reliability of refuelling infrastructure, efficient logistics, and well-structured maintenance and training systems. These elements are essential to ensure continuity of service and overall system performance.
From an economic perspective, the cost of hydrogen remains the main barrier to widespread adoption. That said, ongoing technological improvements and the progressive scaling of projects are already contributing to increased competitiveness, particularly in the heavy-duty segment.
Finally, the session highlighted the strategic value of hydrogen in specific use cases where alternative solutions fall short. Hydrogen proves particularly advantageous for long-range transport, heavy loads, and operations in grid-constrained environments, while retrofit solutions offer a practical pathway to decarbonise existing diesel fleets without requiring full asset replacement.
A shift from pilots to scale
A clear message emerged throughout the session: hydrogen mobility is moving beyond the pilot phase. “The era of small hydrogen pilots is over — we now need real scale and real offtake to make projects work”, said Christophe Dubruque from Lhyfe
Speakers emphasized that the next phase will require coordinated, large-scale deployment supported by reliable infrastructure and strong market demand.
Keep updated
The second Learning Capsule confirmed that hydrogen mobility is no longer a future concept, but a viable and increasingly mature solution for decarbonising transport—particularly in heavy-duty and high-intensity use cases.
Building on these insights, the CyLH2 Valley will continue the Learning Capsules series in the coming months, providing partners with further opportunities to exchange knowledge and accelerate the deployment of hydrogen solutions across the region.
Stay updated via our website and follow the project’s social media channels!
Photo credits: Erik Mclean on Unsplash
