Hydrogen truck operators in western Germany will enter 2026 with a meaningfully different cost base, as hylane confirms a hydrogen tariff of around €8 per kilogram at selected H2 Mobility stations in Düsseldorf and the Rhine-Neckar region.
The price, available exclusively to hylane customers through the company’s fuel card, brings fuel-cell truck operation closer to diesel than at any point in recent years.
Although limited to two regions, the model behind the price - consolidated demand, high-capacity stations and renewable hydrogen supported by policy - carries wider implications for heavy-duty zero-emission transport.
Why €8/kg matters for fleet operators
Hydrogen pricing has been one of the strongest headwinds for fuel-cell truck adoption. Many early deployments have faced hydrogen costs between €10 and €15 per kilogram, placing fuel-cell trucks well above diesel on a straightforward cost-per-kilometre basis.
Around €8/kg is broadly the point at which fuel-cell trucks begin to approach diesel in per-kilometre fuel cost, depending on route, load and duty cycle. With Germany’s zero-emission toll exemption extended to 2031, the total operating picture shifts further, particularly for long-haul operators travelling Europe’s busiest corridors.
This is the first time a commercial arrangement has reached that threshold at operational public stations.
Why the price is achievable at these sites
The structure behind the tariff is straightforward: contractually guaranteed demand.
hylane aggregates the hydrogen consumption of its rental fleets - which include logistics, grocery and retail operators - and commits stable, predictable volumes to H2 Mobility. That certainty allows the station operator to:
- run high-capacity stations closer to their intended utilisation
- plan hydrogen procurement more efficiently
- negotiate renewable hydrogen supply at scale
The participating sites are H2 Mobility’s heavy-duty-focused stations, positioned directly on major freight corridors to ensure frequent, reliable throughput.
Regional green hydrogen supply only
All participating sites supply 100% renewable hydrogen, produced via electrolysis using green electricity in the region and delivered to stations via short-range swap-body trailers. This keeps logistical overheads low and improves the overall carbon profile.
As of 2024, roughly one-third of the hydrogen stations used by hylane customers were already providing green hydrogen, with the proportion increasing as regional production expands.
Policy alignment is strengthening the commercial case
Three policy measures underpin the economics:
- Germany’s greenhouse-gas quota trading, which reduces the effective cost of renewable hydrogen
- RFNBO certification under RED III, supporting corporate sustainability reporting
- The extended zero-emission toll exemption for trucks until 2031
Individually they help; collectively they create a framework in which renewable hydrogen can compete more effectively on long-haul duty cycles.
Verified CO₂ data is becoming mandatory
Fleet operators subject to the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) now require transparent, auditable emissions data. hylane supplies DEKRA-verified CO₂ reports, covering well-to-wheel emissions. Using 100% green hydrogen can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 90% compared with diesel.
For many logistics firms, that level of verification is now a prerequisite for adopting new powertrains.
A small regional deal with wider market implications
The agreement shows how hydrogen truck economics can shift when high-capacity infrastructure is matched with consolidated demand and renewable supply. It also reflects the maturing direction of both organisations: hylane as a zero-emission fleet partner, and H2 Mobility as an operator moving beyond pilot-scale sites to commercial, heavy-vehicle-ready stations.
The €8/kg level isn’t yet available nationwide, and scaling it will require similar demand patterns elsewhere. But it demonstrates what’s possible today under real commercial conditions - and provides a template for regions where fleet clusters and corridor-based infrastructure can be aligned.
