They are still few in number but they should multiply in the months and years to come.
About 200 taxis currently run on hydrogen, but HysetCo, the operator of this new kind of fleet, promises thousands by 2024. This company, whose shareholders are Total Energie, Air Liquide, Toyota , Kouros and Step, will also increase its number of hydrogen distribution stations in Île-de-France.
Currently numbering three, HysetCo has set itself the target of a dozen in two years.
A new station will also be commissioned in June, Porte de Saint-Cloud (Paris XVI).
This site, which will have the particularity of distributing but also producing hydrogen, required an investment of nearly 15 million euros, with the support of the State, which recently rolled out a plan of 7.2 billion euros to develop the sector in France.
To encourage the first taxi drivers to take the leap, HysetCo also offers a formula including vehicle rental, insurance and hydrogen corresponding to several tens of thousands of kilometres.
Read alsoGrand Paris: the largest hydrogen station in Europe will open in June Porte de Saint-Cloud
Almost exclusively used by professional vehicles, this gas has the advantage of not emitting particles and of allowing much faster recharging than the battery of an electric car.
Except that the production of hydrogen in itself is often, for the moment, emitting Co2.
The resulting hydrogen is then referred to as “grey” hydrogen.
On its Saint-Cloud site, HysetCo will use “low carbon” electricity, distributed on the general public network.
While waiting perhaps, to one day produce a completely “green” hydrogen there, while everywhere in Europe, colossal investments are multiplying to allow the development of a neutral hydrogen for the environment.
