German hydrogen subsidy for heavy transport more than twice oversubscribed

Germany's subsidy scheme for hydrogen in heavy road transport has proven a major success. The €220 million pot drew 526 applications requesting more than €455 million in support combined. That makes the scheme more than twice oversubscribed, with demand comfortably exceeding the available budget.

How the scheme works

The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) launched the scheme in early 2026, implemented by NOW GmbH. The core principle is a combined approach: applicants submit a package covering a refuelling station together with its associated trucks. This solves the classic chicken-and-egg problem. A new station has guaranteed uptake from day one, while hauliers are assured of a dependable refuelling point.

The terms are attractive:

• Refuelling stations: up to 50 percent of investment costs, capped at €4 million per site

• Vehicles: up to 80 percent of the additional cost compared to a diesel truck, capped at €3 million per application

• Both fuel-cell trucks and hydrogen combustion engine trucks are eligible

• Stations must be located on AFIR-compliant TEN-T corridors or urban transport hubs

With the original budget, Germany aimed for around 40 refuelling stations and about 400 vehicles. The strong flow of applications shows the sector is ready to meet those figures — and more.

Why this matters

As a transit country, Germany plays a key role in European heavy transport. A dense network of hydrogen refuelling stations along the main corridors makes cross-border hydrogen transport practically viable, including for Dutch hauliers driving towards Germany and beyond.

The scheme aligns with the European AFIR regulation, which requires member states to roll out a basic network of alternative refuelling infrastructure. Hydrogen is a valuable complement to battery-electric here: side by side they offer an emission-free alternative to diesel. For the heaviest and longest hauls, and on corridors where fast refuelling and long range are decisive, hydrogen comes strongly into play.

Notably, both fuel-cell trucks and hydrogen combustion engines qualify under the scheme. That broad technology choice lowers the barrier for hauliers and speeds up the switch from diesel to zero-emission driving.

What happens next

Because demand far exceeds the budget, a competitive selection between the submitted packages follows. The strong interest is a clear signal to Berlin: the willingness to invest in hydrogen for heavy transport is there. Raising the budget could honour a larger share of the applications and further accelerate the network rollout.

Sources:

• Hydrogen Insight – Companies request more than double the €220m offered in Germany's hydrogen transport subsidy scheme (July 2026)

• Fuel Cells Works – Germany's hydrogen truck subsidy was oversubscribed twice over (July 2026)

• electrive.com – Germany launches new funding for H2 refuelling stations and trucks (January 2026)

• Hydrogen Central / BMV – 220 million euros for hydrogen filling stations and vehicles (January 2026)

• Resato Hydrogen / h2-tech.com – funding terms explainer (2026)