The role of hydrogen in sustainable transportation: An international review of distribution and supply systems

Year 2025, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 1 - 19, 21.08.2025

Gizem Mutlu , Alper Çiçek , Ozan Erdinç

https://doi.org/10.14744/cetj.2025.0001

Abstract

The goal of reducing the impact of road transportation on carbon emissions highlights the growing importance of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Although hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) offer a zero-emission solution, their widespread adoption is limited by the scarcity of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs). This review provides an overview of on-site (production at the station) and off-site (delivery-based supply) HRS types and examines recent studies related to HRS planning. Particular attention is given to optimization approaches, economic analyses, and the influence of hydrogen transportation costs on infrastructure decisions. Furthermore, the global distribution of HRSs and national hydrogen strategies are evaluated with a focus on Europe, Asia, and North America. The findings underscore the necessity of integrated planning approaches covering production, distribution, and consumption processes for a sustainable and scalable hydrogen mobility ecosystem. The study reveals that the effective use of hydrogen in transportation is achievable through holistic infrastructure planning and coherent policy frameworks.

Keywords

Hydrogen refueling stations , Fuel cell vehicles , Hydrogen strategies

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