3. What are the financial elements that help to promote TCO (total cost of ownership) and other costs in the value chain?

3.1 Additional costs for the first heavy-duty hydrogen vehicle projects

The extra costs observed on the first hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicle units are significant, but there are many opportunities to reduce the costs required for mass adoption of the technology by operators. In the short term, the deployment of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles is aided by European, national and regional subsidies for vehicles, as well as for hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure (stations). These subsidies have a dual impact: they reduce the difference in investment costs (by lowering the purchase price of vehicles for operators) and lower the additional operating costs (by lowering the price of hydrogen at the pump). While this funding does not entirely erase the extra cost...