Israel’s Energy Ministry to Subsidize Hydrogen Trucks and Fuel Stations in New Tender
Israel’s Ministry of Energy plans to launch a tender next month to fund the purchase of hydrogen-powered trucks and the construction of hydrogen refueling stations. The total budget allocated for the tender winners is approximately 10 million shekels. Initially, the grant will support the establishment of one hydrogen refueling station in the eastern Negev region, within a 2-kilometer radius of major roads. The government will subsidize up to 50% of the station’s cost, capped at 5 million shekels.
In addition, the state aims to purchase hydrogen trucks for local authorities, offering subsidies covering up to 50% of each truck’s cost, with a maximum of 700,000 shekels per vehicle. Currently, only one hydrogen refueling station operates in northern Israel, established by Sonol and Bazan. Industry experts expect that if this pilot proves successful, the government will allocate a larger budget to subsidize hydrogen vehicles, potentially including buses.
Today, Kamobile, Hyundai’s Israeli importer, officially introduced Israel’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus, manufactured by Hyundai. The 11-meter bus has a range of up to 550 kilometers on a single compressed hydrogen tank and features a dual fuel cell system with five hydrogen tanks on its roof, holding a total of 33.99 kilograms of hydrogen. Refueling takes 10 to 15 minutes, enabling the bus to operate a full workday without long charging breaks, unlike electric buses.
Hydrogen vehicles are considered more economical and environmentally friendly than comparable electric vehicles, but their high cost currently necessitates significant government subsidies, as seen in many countries. The Ministry of Energy is expected to issue a follow-up tender including a pilot program for hydrogen-powered buses.
This initiative marks a significant step in Israel’s transition to cleaner transportation technologies, aiming to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency in public and municipal transport.
