Frequently Asked Questions

Hydrogen is the lightest, smallest, and simplest element. It consists of one proton and one electron. Because it is so light, it can be used to fill a balloon that will rise immediately. In 1766, scientist Henry Cavendish succeeded in identifying hydrogen. As a gas (H2), hydrogen is colorless, odorless, non-corrosive, non-oxidizing, non-radioactive, and non-toxic.

Hydrogen does not occur naturally and must be made by separating the hydrogen atoms from other molecules, for example from natural gas (CH4) or from water (H2O). This requires energy. The result is the energy-rich molecule hydrogen. When heat is applied – a flame – hydrogen reacts with oxygen and forms water again. This releases a significant amount of energy (125 MJ per kilo of hydrogen: 3.5 times as much as a liter of gasoline). Due to the violent reaction upon combustion, hydrogen was also called detonating gas.

There is no shortage of hydrogen – not at this moment and not in the near future. International scaling will lower prices and increase availability. The fear that there will not be enough hydrogen available for the Netherlands in the future is unfounded. In 2022, the Netherlands joined the H2Global initiative – to import green hydrogen on a very large scale together with Germany. Germany has already made €900 million available and “according to reports, it concerns hundreds of millions of euros from the Dutch side”. The first import is expected in 2024! The Rotterdam port has been playing a major role in this for a year now and they anticipate a very rapid increase in hydrogen imports from 2025.

A hydrogen car is essentially an electric car, but with a much smaller battery. The car uses hydrogen (H2) as an energy source. In the car’s fuel cell, this gas reacts with the sucked-in air. This process releases a lot of electricity, which drives the electric motor. Hydrogen leaves the exhaust as water vapor; a hydrogen car is therefore free of harmful emissions.

There seems to be a tribal war between hydrogen fans and battery believers. We believe that both technologies are promising. For small amounts and short periods of storage, batteries are cheaper. But: the more charging stations that are added to the public space for all these battery-electric cars, the less parking space is left. And when it comes to larger amounts of energy that also needs to be stored for a longer period or transported over long distances, hydrogen is the champion!

There is also a debate about the presence of sufficient sustainable electricity to produce hydrogen. We already do not have enough sustainable electricity for “normal” use in the Netherlands. At the same time, we also have peak moments with too much electricity. For small amounts, it is cheaper to store electricity in batteries. For larger amounts, hydrogen is better suited.

Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In a few years, a lot of hydrogen will be produced in areas close to the equator. And closer to home, countries such as Spain and Greece will become important suppliers of sustainable electricity and hydrogen. Iceland, Greenland, and Norway are also warming up to export green hydrogen. In the southern countries, the yield from sun and wind is much greater, making the production and transport of hydrogen profitable.

In short: Hydrogen-electric and battery-electric are not competitors, but complementary technologies, each with their own applications…

• Urgency. We need hydrogen as a fuel alongside battery-electric to achieve the climate goals in 2030 and work towards reducing CO2 and NOx.
• Dependency on other countries. By switching to hydrogen, we become less dependent on battery-producing countries such as China.
• Scarce resources. Since we need a much smaller battery with hydrogen, we reduce the mining of lithium, the raw material for batteries. The price of lithium has also increased by 400% since 2021!
• Preventing grid congestion and large infrastructure investments. By driving more on hydrogen, we relieve the electricity grid in the Netherlands. We also do not need to build more expensive infrastructure.
• Refueling speed. Hydrogen can be refueled as quickly as a fossil fuel-powered car (diesel, gasoline). Passenger cars can be fully refueled in three to five minutes at our Fountain Fuels.
• Range. A hydrogen car has a greater range than a battery-electric car and only experiences limited range loss in cold weather.
• Weight. Hydrogen vehicles are much lighter in proportion, leaving more space for cargo. This is also advantageous!
• Price. Ultimately, hydrogen will become cheaper than driving on fossil fuels and battery-electric.

• Passenger cars: Currently, there are the Hyundai Nexo, Toyota Mirai. BMW has announced that it will launch a small series of hydrogen cars now and start mass production in 2025.
• Transport and logistics: Stellantis already has the Citroen E-Jumpy and Opel Vivaro on hydrogen. Renault will come with the Hyvia around the summer of 2023. Trucks will be produced in larger quantities from 2025.
• Shipping: Rhine project (EU) – ships will sail on hydrogen on the Rotterdam and Duisburg route.
• Public transport: In the province of Groningen, Qbuzz operates hydrogen buses.

• There are about 900 hydrogen vehicles registered in the Netherlands at the beginning of 2023. For current figures, see RDW – Open Data | RDW | Open Data | RDW
• At https://opwegmetwaterstof.nl/tanklocaties you can find all the refueling locations that are ready and see which ones are under construction. The locations of Fountain Fuel are also added here as soon as they are operational.

Individuals can apply for the Subsidy Scheme for Electric Passenger Cars for Individuals (SEPP subsidy) at RVO. This scheme applies to new and used electric (and thus also hydrogen) passenger cars. This subsidy can be applied for from January 10, 2023, 9:00 a.m. and will continue until the subsidy amount is exhausted – https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/sepp

For companies and entrepreneurs, the Emission-free Commercial Vehicles Subsidy Scheme (SEBA – https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/seba) and the Environmental Investment Allowance (MIA) or the Random Depreciation of Environmental Investments (Vamil) (https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/mia-vamil/ondernemers/aanvragen) apply.

In 2023, we are building our first three Fountain Fuels. We will open our location in Amersfoort for public in the beginning of June.

We will keep you informed of the planning of our other locations on our location page and on LinkedIn.

Our Fountain Fuels are recognizable by the iconic, sustainable wooden canopy. We made a timelapse film of the construction of our first canopy in Amersfoort.

At our locations, you can both refuel with hydrogen and fast charge your electric vehicle. In addition to refueling and charging, you can also find other facilities with us, such as healthy food, collaboration spaces, or a new-style truck stop. So we provide energy to vehicles and people at our Fountain Fuel locations! We will keep you informed of the planning of this station and our other locations on our location page and on LinkedIn.

Hydrogen refueling:

• 1 dispenser with 1 nozzle (refueling on 2 sides) for 350 bar (freight transport)
• 1 dispenser with 2 nozzles (simultaneously refueling) for 700 bar (passenger transport)

*We can expand to 2 x 350 bar and 4 x 700 bar at our locations.

Electric fast charging:

• 4 x Hypercharge (300kW)
• 2 x Fastcharge (150kW)
• 1 x truck/bus charging station (300kW)

To build a Fountain Fuel, we need a location of 3500-5000 m2. We ensure that our energy stations can be used by both passenger cars and freight transport. And on the site, you will always find some additional facilities such as a shop, coworking space, or truck stop. Check out the ‘Do you have a suggestion?’ page for more information on what a location for Fountain Fuel should meet.

We work with robust partners who deliver proven quality. Such as Linde Engineering for our hydrogen technology, and Allego for the fast charging points at our stations. Of course, we also work together with municipalities to obtain locations. Fountain Fuel is co-financed by the European Union, through the ELENA and CEF programs.

So we have partners within the business community (suppliers, builders, advisory clubs, car companies), governments (location owners and subsidy providers), and financiers (such as banks). Check the overview of partners on the ‘about us‘ page.

Have you got more questions about hydrogen? Check the webiste of the branche organisation for hydrogen in The Netherlands NLHydrogen. 

If you have any other questions about Fountain Fuel, please contact us via the contact form and ask your question!