The potential of hydrogen as a transportation fuel is drawing renewed attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Against this backdrop, a CEPA and BMW panel discussion convened industry leaders, government officials, and policy experts to examine where hydrogen fuel technology stands. The conversation covered the maturing technology behind hydrogen vehicles, the case for harmonized standards, the competitive challenge from Beijing, and the policy conditions needed to keep the West at the technological frontier.
A Maturing Technology
Recent advances in hydrogen storage are pushing the technology toward practical application. BMW’s new hydrogen-powered iX5 uses a flat storage system to carry more hydrogen, increasing range and cutting refueling time to under five minutes. Further, excess energy generation from wind and solar power plants can be stored as hydrogen gas, reducing the environmental impact of production. Participants also pointed to other advantages. Hydrogen holds its range in cold conditions and, unlike battery-electric vehicles, places no additional strain on the electrical grid. None of this means hydrogen will replace internal combustion engines or battery-electric vehicles. Nevertheless, with appropriate attention from policymakers, it can be a useful overlay on existing transportation infrastructure in the medium term.
The Case for Harmonized Standards
Attendees emphasized that the worldwide harmonization of standards is central to the future of hydrogen vehicles, securing the West while supporting the vertical integration needed to drive costs down. Europe has already moved: European Union rules require a fueling station every 200 kilometers along major routes. Several attendees pointed to New England and the wider Northeast, whose networks and geography could serve as a proving ground for the technology. The warning was blunt. If the West does not deploy new technology at scale, someone else will.
The Competitive Challenge from China
The discussion shifted towards China, which participants said plans to lead in hydrogen and has a clear plan to compete. Beijing intends to control the hydrogen supply chain and subsidize its domestic firms to undercut Western prices. Attendees drew a sharp contrast with US policy, which several described as siloed and lacking regulatory durability.
Takeaways
The throughline was predictability. Attendees maintained that the future of hydrogen depends on a policy environment stable enough to justify long-term investment —avoiding regulatory measures that disincentivize innovation as well as integrating digital and physical infrastructure. As BMW’s iX5 Hydrogen shows, international cooperation can keep the West in the lead. The future of transatlantic hydrogen innovation is a space policymakers must watch.
Jack Galloway is a Program Assistant with the Tech Policy Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
Alina Kreynovich is a Program Assistant for External Affairs at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
This event was held at the Center for European Policy Analysis under the Chatham House Rule.
CEPA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy institution. All opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and may not represent those of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis. CEPA maintains a strict intellectual independence policy across all its projects and publications.
