From HyHaul To China: Why Hydrogen Transport Keeps Losing - CleanTechnica

The article examines the repeated failures of hydrogen transport initiatives, using the UK’s HyHaul project as a recent example. HyHaul was promoted as the UK’s first significant hydrogen freight corridor, supported by government funding and industrial partners, with plans for hydrogen refueling stations and fuel cell trucks. However, it never secured binding commercial commitments from fleet operators, failed to finalize investments in infrastructure, and did not deliver vehicles at scale. By late 2025, the project quietly ended without dramatic collapse, reflecting a common pattern among hydrogen transport efforts that fail not due to technological issues but because they are not competitive, financeable, or scalable. The author tracks 171 hydrogen transport firms and projects, noting a 36% attrition rate due to companies exiting the sector, ceasing operations, or abandoning strategies. Many firms, including notable ones like Plug Power and Fuel Cell Energy, face severe financial distress. Failures often occur quietly, with parent companies shelving hydrogen programs without formal shutdowns to manage reput