Hydrogen fuel stations to be built between Sydney and Melbourne under $20m plan

In a joint announcement the two governments say they will each spend $10m on grants to manufacture about 25 hydrogen-fuelled trucks and at least four refuelling stations along the 840km Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne.

The Victorian government has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

While still in its infancy in Australia, renewable hydrogen is often touted as a future replacement for diesel-powered vehicles. A refuelling station solely dedicated to hydrogen-powered vehicles was opened in the ACT last year, which mainly services some government vehicles. Other private refuelling sites have been built, including at a Toyota facility in Melbourne.

But while manufacturers such as Toyota have invested heavily in the technology, the market has increasingly focused on electric vehicles.

However, Australian researchers have touted advances in technology making so-called stretch targets for hydrogen fuel more achievable.

Those plans also include establishing stations on the Pacific and Newell highways.

In January the Australian Trucking Association produced a joint report with the Electric Vehicle Council recommending changes to vehicle standards and investment in recharging stations, with the aim for all new heavy vehicles to be using renewable fuels by 2040.