According to a report by Nikkei Asia on May 19, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to allocate ¥46 billion (approximately ¥23 billion in RMB) to subsidize the price of hydrogen for fuel cell trucks and buses. The subsidy will amount to ¥700 (about ¥35 RMB) per kilogram of hydrogen, which can cover approximately three-quarters of the price difference between hydrogen and diesel for large hydrogen fuel cell trucks.
This subsidy is regionally restricted and will be available in six prefectures in Japan and their surrounding areas, including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Fukushima, Aichi, Hyogo, and Fukuoka. As part of its initiative to promote fuel cell commercial vehicles, the ministry will also subsidize the hydrogen procurement costs and other expenses for about 90 hydrogen refueling stations in these areas. Furthermore, the ministry has urged these six prefectures to establish targets for the adoption rate of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and to expand local support measures.
The subsidies for hydrogen stations aim to lower the refueling costs for hydrogen fuel cell trucks and buses. Due to the higher cost of hydrogen compared to diesel, transportation companies operating hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have faced significant economic pressure, especially as hydrogen prices continue to rise. According to a report from Tokyo Shimbun on April 4, 2024, Iwatani Corporation raised its hydrogen price by 36% to ¥1,650 (approximately ¥82 RMB) per kilogram, while ENEOS increased its price by 33% to ¥2,200 (about ¥109 RMB) per kilogram. The price of hydrogen at the Nerima hydrogen station operated by Tokyo Gas also increased to ¥1,760 (around ¥87 RMB) per kilogram, with multiple price hikes occurring.
Despite the rising hydrogen prices, the operation of hydrogen stations remains challenging. This year, several hydrogen stations in Japan have announced their closure, leaving users of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles facing the dilemma of “no hydrogen available.” Users reported that the Nerima hydrogen station, the closest to their homes and only a 10-minute journey away, is set to cease operations in June. Additionally, a hydrogen station in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, has also closed, forcing users to travel significantly further, to Kawaguchi or Omiya in Saitama Prefecture, to refuel.
As of April 24, 2025, statistics from the Japan Next-Generation Vehicle Promotion Center indicate that there are 154 operational hydrogen stations nationwide. Notably, the Suginami Ward hydrogen station, which was reported as closed on April 4, is still listed as operational. There has been no upward trend in the number of hydrogen stations in recent years. Data shows that as of April 2024, there were 161 operational hydrogen stations, while in 2021, the number was already 157 – indicating a decline in the number of hydrogen stations in Japan.
The low ownership and sluggish sales of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Japan are contributing factors to the operational difficulties faced by hydrogen stations. According to Tokyo Shimbun, as of June 2024, there were only 8,479 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Japan. Data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association reveals that in the first four months of 2025, the total sales of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles reached only 151 units, with just 28 units sold in April.
A relevant official from the Japan Resource and Energy Agency commented to Tokyo Shimbun: “Car manufacturers say they cannot produce vehicles if nobody uses them; infrastructure companies argue that they cannot build facilities without users; and consumers complain that there are too few models and hydrogen stations, making it inconvenient to use. This creates a stalemate involving all three parties.”
Tokyo Shimbun remarked that as early as 2017, the Japanese government established the world’s first national hydrogen strategy, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been regarded as vehicles that will eventually be needed. However, consumers remain hesitant to purchase, primarily due to high prices and an incomplete hydrogen refueling network. More than six years have passed, and the question remains: when will that “eventual” day arrive?
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/japan-allocates-46-billion-yen-subsidy-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-trucks-amidst-declining-hydrogen-station-availability/
