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
Incentives are essentially missing, however some provisions for incentives for FCEV vehicles exists: Gov. Resolution 1487/2015; but detailed rules and concrete implementation measures were not elaborated. Restrictions (like driving into deep garages) are also missing and/or not unequivocal. Missing incentives for FCEV hinder procurements of them. The non–accurate legislation creates uncertainty whether hydrogen vehicles are allowed to park in deep garages and/or confined spaces, or not

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. – no iv. – no b) parking places (e.g. underground) i. – in case of parking places only the underground and/or no well ventilated (confined) places are restricted, and only for LPG and CNG vehicles. The legislation (OTSz - Fire Protection Codes) does not refer to hydrogen vehicles; so – theoretically – not restricted. But this is an uncertainty in the legislation. ii. – same as i) iii. – same as i) iv. – same as i) c) ferry i. – no information (waiting for the response of an inland ferry company) ii. – same as i) iii. – same as i) iv. – same as i) d) trains i. – no information (waiting for the response of Hungarian Railway Co.) ii. – same as i) iii. – same as i) iv. – same as i) e) 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 iii. – no iv. – no b) free/reduced fee parking i. – no. Available only for battery electric and plug–in hybrids (passenger cars). ii. – no iii. – n.a iv. – no c) tax incentives i. – no. Available only for battery electric cars and plug–in hybrids ii. – no iii. – no iv. – no d) registration fee reduction i. – no. Available only for battery electric cars and plug–in hybrids ii. – no iii. – no iv. – no e) toll charges exemption (e.g. congestion charge in London) i. – no. If congestion charge will be introduced, probably (battery) electric cars will be beneficiaries. ii. – no iii. – no iv. – no f) public procurement rules i. – no. Only for (battery) electric cars. ii. – no iii. – no iv. – no 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
Battery electric vehicles, and partly plug–in hybrid vehicles.

National legislation:

EU Legislation: