loader image
RCS Database

Transport Applications

Hydrogen applications are found across all areas of transportation and are expected to increase dramatically in the future. These applications include use in road transport in the form of passenger cars and commercial vehicles, as well as in rail transport, shipping, and aviation for both passenger and freight transport.

Learn more

Motorised Vehicles and Road Vehicles

Rail Applications

Aviation

Maritime Applications

Cars, light commercial vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles

Fuelling protocols and specific RCS for rail applications

ReFuelEU Aviation, power-to-liquid roadmap and safety

FuelEU Maritime and IGF Code

Motorised Vehicles and Road Vehicles

The application of hydrogen in motor vehicles is diverse: generally, these can be categorized into passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, heavy-duty vehicles, and specialized vehicles. For operation with compressed gaseous hydrogen, ISO 12619 applies, as well as UNECE Regulation R134 and, at the national level, the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) for vehicle approval.

Motor vehicles without road approval, such as construction machinery and off-road vehicles, also fall within the scope of standards for motor and road vehicles.

Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles
In the field of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, hydrogen tanks are of high relevance at the standards level. The standard for fuel tanks designed for gaseous hydrogen is ISO 19881, whereas ISO 13985 applies to liquid hydrogen. In addition, the connection devices between the refueling station and the vehicle are crucial for the refueling process. These connection devices are addressed by ISO 17268-1. Furthermore, ISO 19887-1 (Fuel system components for hydrogen-fuelled vehicles) and ISO 19882 (Thermally activated pressure relief devices for compressed hydrogen vehicle fuel containers) are particularly noteworthy.
Heavy-duty Vehicles

A wide range of regulations must be complied with in the heavy commercial vehicle sector. Starting in 2025, the approval of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) for the transport of dangerous goods (including hydrogen, which is classified as a hazardous substance) of various ADR classes AT and FL will be permitted under ADR regulations.

Currently, there are no heavy-duty refueling protocols available for hydrogen vehicles, which can make the refueling process for heavy-duty vehicles time-consuming. To address this, ISO Technical Committee 197, Working Group 24 (WG24), is developing ISO 19885-3. This standard aims to enable refueling speeds of up to 300 g/s and amounts of up to 200 kg. These new protocols are being developed based on ISO 19885-1, preliminary work from the PRHYDE Project, and SAE J2601/5.

With Regulation (EU) 2019/1242, fleet-wide CO2 limits for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles were introduced for the first time. Based on a reference fleet from 2019/20, the regulation sets a CO2 reduction target of 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030. Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 is intended to support the integration of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) into manufacturers’ fleets.

Rail Applications

Rail vehicles can generally be powered by fuel cells, and corresponding locomotives are already in use by Deutsche Bahn. However, for heavy-duty applications such as shunting locomotives and freight trains, hydrogen combustion engines are more likely to be used.

As of 2024, however, suitable refueling protocols for heavy-duty vehicles with high flow rates and standardized calibration devices (Eichnormale) are still lacking. The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) is currently evaluating appropriate calibration standards and quantity measurement devices. On a regulatory level, the German Ordinance on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road, Rail, and Inland Waterways (GGVSEB) is particularly relevant.

In addition, ISO Technical Committee 197 plans to propose ISO 17268-4 and ISO 19887-2. ISO 17268-4 is intended to standardize refueling connections for rail vehicles, while ISO 19887-2 will define fuel system components for hydrogen-powered rail vehicles.

Another planned but as yet unnamed standard, based on DIN EN 1779, aims to define acceptance criteria for recognized leak testing methods during commissioning and recurring inspections of permanently installed hydrogen systems in rail vehicles.

A further, also unnamed, standard is in preparation. It will describe a rail-specific verification method for thermal pressure relief devices of hydrogen storage systems.

Aviation

The use of hydrogen in the aviation sector is currently still in the prototype stage, which is why only a few standards have been specifically developed for this application. At present, ISO 19888-1 is under development—this standard will describe a liquid hydrogen (LH₂) storage system for aviation.

The “ReFuelEU Aviation” is an EU directive that defines requirements for the use of renewable fuels (SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuels). The directive also calls for the use of sustainable hydrogen. Specifically, ReFuelEU mandates that by 2025, 2% of all aviation fuel used at European airports must come from alternative sources. By 2050, this share is to increase to 70%. Within the share of alternative fuels, hydrogen currently accounts for only a small portion. The majority is still covered by blending in biofuels.

The Power-to-Liquid (PtL) Roadmap, published in 2021, outlines a strategy for scaling up the market for electricity-based fuels, particularly PtL kerosene, for aviation. Electricity-based fuels are generally produced by combining hydrogen with carbon and, under the right production conditions, are significantly more environmentally friendly than fossil-based kerosene. According to the PtL Roadmap, it is realistic that 200,000 tonnes of PtL kerosene will be available by 2030. This corresponds to 2% of the kerosene consumption in Germany in 2019.

Safety regulations for aircraft refueling operations are set by the IATA (International Air Transport Association) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). Onboard refueling procedures are regulated in the U.S. by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and in Europe by the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency).

Further information: PtL Roadmap

Maritime Applications

The relevance of hydrogen in the maritime sector is steadily increasing. It is already being used, particularly in peripheral ship systems such as safety systems or power generation. Its importance is also growing in the field of low-emission propulsion systems, especially in inland waterway transport. In contrast, ocean shipping is currently focusing more on other renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin (RFNBO – Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin).

RCS is the abbreviation for Regulations, Codes and Standards. The goal of standardization is the planned unification of tangible and intangible objects, carried out jointly by interest groups, for the benefit of the general public.

RCS

Latest News

Social Media

The RCS website is a project of NOW GmbH

Haftungsausschluss

Trotz der Sorgfalt, die bei der Erstellung dieser Website beachtet wurde, gilt folgender Haftungsausschluss: Die Informationen auf dieser Website werden in ihrem derzeitigen Zustand zur Verfügung gestellt, und es wird keine Garantie oder Gewährleistung dafür übernommen, dass die Informationen für einen bestimmten Zweck geeignet sind. Der Benutzer verwendet die Informationen auf sein eigenes Risiko und Haftung. Die Informationen und die RCS Datenbank spiegelt die Ansichten der Autoren und Fachexperten wider. Die NOW GmbH haftet nicht für die Verwendung der hierin enthaltenen Informationen.

Disclaimer

Despite the care taken in creating this website, the following disclaimer applies: The information on this website is provided “as is” and no guarantee or warranty is given that the information is suitable for a particular purpose. The user uses the information at his own risk and liability. The information and the RCS database reflect the views of the authors and subject matter experts. NOW GmbH is not liable for the use of the information contained herein.