A harmonised network-level cost comparison of hydrogen refuelling and electric charging infrastructure for road freight transport

The decarbonization of heavy-duty vehicles requires transitioning from fossil fuel to zero-emission trucks, such as battery electric trucks and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks. However, the absence of a pervasive and dependable network of high-capacity charging and hydrogen refuelling stations risks of compromising, rather than fostering, the greening of this hard-to-abate sector. The present study aims to contribute to the extant literature by presenting an innovative analysis of the EU network-level dispensing infrastructure cost of both compressed and subcooled liquid hydrogen refuelling stations, in addition to megawatt charging stations. It is calculated that, assuming the entire trucks fleet conversion into 35 MPa and 70 MPa-compressed hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, annual investments of 3.8 and 7.2 billion euros will be necessary by 2050 for the establishment of a hydrogen refuelling network infrastructure in Europe. Conversely, the financial outlay required for the electrification of 2 million battery electric trucks in Europe by 2050 is estimated to be between 8.1 and 12.9 billion euros per year. Similarly, the cost of network-level subcooled liquid hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is calculated to be 1.0 billion euros. While the 70 MPa-hydrogen refuelling and the ultra-fast electric charging levelized dispensing costs are comparable, the levelized costs associated solely with the refuelling of 35 MPa-compressed hydrogen are estimated to be 50–65% lower than those of electric charging. Subcooled liquid hydrogen exhibits the lowest dispensing infrastructure costs; however, upstream liquefaction emerges as a dominant cost driver, substantially increasing total supply chain costs. These results highlight the critical role of stations-infrastructure economics in shaping technology pathways for heavy-duty transport decarbonisation. By providing transparent and comparable cost benchmarks, the study supports evidence-based policy design, coordinated stations planning, and strategic prioritisation of hydrogen and electric charging networks in Europe.