Restrictions & Incentives

This LAP investigates:
• The restrictions imposed on hydrogen vehicles using public and private parking places, tunnels and other facilities of the transport network,
• The existing financial and non-financial incentives for hydrogen vehicles

Glossary:

Restrictions & Incentives mean the privileges and the restrictions which could be established for hydrogen vehicles by using public and private parking facilities, tunnels other facilities of the transport network.

Pan-European Assessment:

Restrictions for hydrogen vehicles when using public road infrastructure may be imposed in relation to the on-board storage of high pressure or liquid hydrogen and their classification as dangerous goods according to ADR. In general, no substantial restrictions or barriers for hydrogen powered vehicles using the elements of the public transport network are identified.

Nevertheless, the passing through some categories of tunnels or parking in underground garages could be forbidden for some types of hydrogen powered vehicles, especially busses and trucks. Due to the limited number of the hydrogen powered vehicles in use, the potential restrictions on transportation of hydrogen powered vehicles with ferry or train are rather unknown. It is possible that the ferry/train operator may require information about the type of the vehicle to be transported or restrict the number of hydrogen powered vehicles transported on board. As a whole, there is no enough experience and sufficient information about the restrictions which may be imposed on hydrogen busses, trolleybuses ant trucks when using the facilities of the public transport infrastructure.

For purposes of achieving their energy and climate policy goals the majority of partner countries have adopted a number of policies, national legislative acts and support schemes for stimulating the market of electric, or low (zero) emission vehicles The FCEVs are legally defined as electric drive vehicles or as low (zero) emission vehicles and could benefit from the financial and non-financial incentives established for these types of vehicles.
The support measures mainly consist of tax and registration fee reductions and exemptions, the purchase grants and green or white certificates are less commonly used support tools. The toll charges exemptions are in place only in a few countries. The public procurement rules for acquisition of low emission vehicles are also not widespread used support instrument. In several countries, the local authorities may provide privileges for FCEVs such as access to bus lines and free/reduced parking in public parking spaces.
The existing support mechanisms are fragmented and mainly aimed at battery electric cars.
The lack of complex, appropriate and technology neutral support measures are considered as a significant economic barrier and in some cases as a regulatory gap for successful market deployment of the FCEVs.
Is it a barrier?
Yes
Type of Barrier
Economic barrier, Regulatory gap
Assessment Severity
3
Assessment
The impact of the LAP is usually not significant – although there are significant tax incentives in place but the number of hydrogen and BEV is still very low. On exceptional occasions the impact might be significant if one cann’t transport FC vehicle with trucks, trains and or ferries. In case one cann’t transport fuel cell vehicles by train, ferry etc. then this might have an impact on the decision whether to procure a fuel cell vehicle. In general there are no restrictions for H2–vehicles regarding usage of public roads and other transport facilities

Questions:

Question 1 Is there any restriction for hydrogen vehicles?: a) use of tunnels i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks b) parking places (e.g. underground) i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks c) ferry i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks d) trains i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks e) others i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks
a) use of tunnels i. – no ii. – no iii. – noiv. – b) parking places (e.g. underground) i. – there are no legal restrictions but if the owner of the relevant private parking place doesn’t agree than one is not allowed to park there ii. – there are no legal restrictions but if the owner of the relevant private parking place doesn’t agree than one is not allowed to park there iii. – there are no legal restrictions but if the owner of the relevant private parking place doesn’t agree than one is not allowed to park there iv. – there are no legal restrictions but if the owner of the relevant private parking place doesn’t agree than one is not allowed to park there c) ferry i. – no information ii. – no information iii. – no information iv. – no information d) trains i. –Generally no restrictions. According to Annex A of ADR hydrogen and fuel cell engines are classified as dangerous goods. Apart from some excessively dangerous goods, other dangerous goods – like hydrogen and fuel cell engines may be carried internationally in road vehicles subject to compliance with the conditions laid down in Annex A and B (last amendments entered into force on 1 January 2017) ii. – see i. iii. – n/a iv. – others i. – n/a ii. – n/a iii. – n/a iv. – n/a
Question 2 Are there any incentives for hydrogen vehicles? a) access to specific lanes (e.g. bus) i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks b) free/reduced fee parking i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks c) tax incentives i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks d) registration fee reduction i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks e) toll charges exemption (e.g. congestion charge in London) i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks e) public procurement rules i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks e) others i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks
a) access to specific lanes (e.g. bus) i. – no ii. – no since buses have often their specific lanes – if any – anyway iii. – no iv. – no b) free/reduced fee parking i. – no ii. – no iii. – no iv. – no c) tax incentives i. – yes, there are tax incentives in place for hydrogen fuelled fuel cell vehicles which are categorized regarding tax benefits in analogy to electric vehicles. These types of car do not have to pay for the so called standard fuel consumption tax (Normverbrauchsabgabe) In addition, they do not have to pay for the tax on the insurance premium/fee (on a regular basis there is a tax on the insurance fee to be paid for in Austria. The tax on the insurance fee has not to be paid for in case of hydrogen fuelled cars). In case the employer offers filling stations where one doesn’t have to pay for the fuel, this benefit in kind is not regarded as taxable income ii. – yes, there are tax incentives in place for hydrogen fuelled fuel cell vehicles iii. – n/a iv. – yes, there are tax incentives in place for hydrogen fuelled fuel cell vehicles d) registration fee reduction i. – no ii. – no iii. – no iv. – no e) toll charges exemption (e.g. congestion charge in London) i. – no ii. – no iii. – no iv. – no f) public procurement rules i. – no, except the provisions that the impact on the environment should be taken into consideration but this is difficult to be prop no, except the provisions that the impact on the environment should be taken into consideration but this is difficult to be properly assessed ii. – no, except the provisions that the impact on the environment should be taken into consideration but this is difficult to be properly assessed iii. – no, except the provisions that the impact on the environment should be taken into consideration but this is difficult to be properly assessed no iv. – no, except the provisions that the impact on the environment should be taken into consideration but this is difficult to be properly assessed g) others i. – n/a ii. – n/a iii. – n/a iv. – n/a
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Electric vehicles

National legislation:

  • Law on power driven vehicles
    ADR lays down uniform rules for the safe international transport of dangerous goods. Apart from some excessively dangerous goods, other dangerous goods may be carried internationally in road vehicles subject to compliance with the conditions laid down in Annex A and B (last amendments entered into force on 1 January 2017).
  • Summarized legal provisions regarding transport of dangerous goods = Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Gefahrengutbeförderungsgesetz
    This federal law applies to the transport of dangerous goods; it doesn’t deal with non–dangerous goods. Regulations of other protection areas such as employee protection, trade law, chemicals law, water law, health care, public safety or radiation protection are not affected by this federal law
  • Income tax act 1988 (Einkommenssteuergesetz)
    Article 15 of the law on income taxes deals with so called benefits in kind which - on a regular basis - have to be taxed. In case of a hydrogen fuelled car the benefits in kind are partially not subject to taxation

EU Legislation: