Danish hydrogen company shuts down refuelling stations due to low demand

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【Summary】Danish hydrogen company Everfuel is closing its hydrogen refuelling stations for cars due to a lack of hydrogen vehicles and technical issues. The company will instead focus on refuelling heavy transport vehicles and green hydrogen production. Everfuel cited immature technology, project complexities, delayed hydrogen sources, supply chain constraints, and cost inflation as reasons for its decision.

FutureCar Staff Sep 18, 2023 11:15 PM PT

Danish hydrogen company shuts down refuelling stations due to low demand

Everfuel, a Danish-based hydrogen fuel company, has announced that it will be closing its hydrogen refuelling stations used for cars. The decision comes after the company faced problems with its technology, including the grounding of its hydrogen trailer fleet and the closure of some stations. Everfuel also cited the lack of hydrogen cars and shortage of skilled personnel as contributing factors.

The company attributed its decision to the "immature technology, project complexities, delayed third-party hydrogen sources, supply chain constraints, and cost inflation." It also mentioned the delayed roll-out of hydrogen vehicles at scale, a limited pool of competent personnel, and limited access to capital in the current market environment.

To ensure financial stability, Everfuel will be closing its loss-making legacy stations. Instead, the company will focus on developing a network for refuelling heavy-duty vehicles and green hydrogen production. Everfuel believes that these areas are better supported by EU policies.

Founded in 2019, Everfuel aims to build a European-wide hydrogen production and supply system for heavy-duty vehicles. The company already has partnerships in place across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Everfuel CEO Jacob Krogsgaard expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused to customers and employees. He stated that the company cannot continue to subsidize public hydrogen refuelling but will honor existing firm supply contracts.

This announcement comes after Everfuel grounded its hydrogen trailer fleet a few months ago due to a malfunction and leak of a valve. The company's existing refuelling stations have also experienced continuous low technical uptime, which reflects the still immature hydrogen technology, according to the company.

Everfuel has several refuelling stations under development that align with the AFIR legislation. These include sites in the Port of Aarhus, Taulov, and Vordingborg in Denmark; Alnabru in Norway; Trelleborg and Karlstad in Sweden; and the Frankfurt and Wuppertal bus stations in Germany.