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
Because for several question there is no information available yet. It is difficult to know the impact of the LAP and whether this is a barrier. It of importance to find this out and will be further looked into. For now it has been indicated as a barrier because the fact that there are no answers yet is a barrier but know yet wat the implication of the barrier is. Not known yet because of open questions.

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. – According to the ADR the tunnel restriction code is B/D. Meaning: Transport in tanks: passage forbidden through tunnels of category B, C, D and E; Other transport: passage prohibited by tunnels of category D and E In the Netherlands the tunnel classification is given in https://www.ilent.nl/onderwerpen/gevaarlijke–stoffen–vrachtwagen/regels–tijdens–vervoer–gevaarlijke–stoffen–over–de–weg/tunnels The source of the tunnel legislation can be found in the EU Directive 2004/54 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union of 29 April 2004 on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans–European road network (PbEU L 167, corrected by PbEU L 201), part of these EU regulations have been implemented in the Netherlands in the Buildings Decree and part in the Warvw and Rarvw. The Building Decree applies to all tunnels and the Warvw and Rarvw for all tunnels longer than 250 m. ii. – No, see i iii. – No, see i iv. – No, see i b) parking places (e.g. underground) i. – This is not know yet and will have to be looked into.o ii. – see i iii. – see i iv. – see i c) ferry i. – no information available yet ii. – see i iii. – see i iv. – see i d) trains i. – No information available yet ii. – see i iii. – see i iv. – see i e) others i. – No information available yeto ii. – see i iii. – see i iv. – see i
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. – Not as far as we know. However, cities already have environmental zones with restrictions regarding emission ii. – see i iii. – see i iv. – see i b) free/reduced fee parking i. – Not as far as we know ii. – see i iii. – see i iv. – see i c) tax incentives i. – If you buy a hydrogen vehicle there is a tax incentives. These are Environmental investment allowance (MIA) and the Random amortization of environmental investments (Vamil). Hydrogen cars are eligible for 36% MIA and 75% Vamil under code F 3109 https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies–regelingen/mia–en–vamil/milieulijst–miavamil/branches–en–themas/duurzaam–transport Also: To stimulate the purchase, the following tax benefits apply until 2021: • No purchase tax (BPM) • No road tax (MRB). • Low addition of 4% per year t ii. – see i; code F 3115 relates to hydrogen buses. i iii. – see i; code F 3115 relates to hydrogen buses. i ee i iv. – Both MRB and BZM must be paid for most trucks. Also see: MRB: https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/prive/auto_en_vervoer/belastingen_op_auto_en_motor/motorrijtuigenbelasting/hoeveel_motorrijtuigenbelasting_betaal_ik/motorrijtuigenbelasting_vrachtauto/motorrijtuigenbelasting_vrachtauto Exemption for: Drive by an electric motor or hydrogen combustion engine Is your motor vehicle (also truck) driven exclusively by an electric motor and is the electrical energy supplied exclusively by a battery or a fuel cell? Or is your motor vehicle powered solely by a combustion engine that is supplied with hydrogen? Then you do not have to pay motor vehicle tax i BZM (Tax Heavy Motor Vehicles) https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/prive/auto_en_vervoer/belastingen_op_auto_en_motor/belasting_zware_motorrijtuigen/ This tax has no exemption for hydrogen. d) registration fee reduction i. – see c ii. – see ii iii. – see i i iv. – see i i e) toll charges exemption (e.g. congestion charge in London) i. – No information available ii. – see i i iii. – see i i iv. – see i i f) public procurement rules i. – see c ii. – see i i iii. – see i i iv. – see ii g) others i. – No information available ii. – see i iii. – see i iv. – see i
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Electric vehicles

National legislation:

  • Wegenverkeerswet 1994 ( Road Traffic Act)
    The Road Traffic Act 1994 (Wvw) forms the basis for all traffic regulations. The starting point here is the smoothness and flow of traffic, and that no one should cause hindrance or danger on the road

EU Legislation: