From Hydrogen Hope To EV Reality: How Hype’s Subsidy Bubble Burst - CleanTechnica

Hype, once a leading hydrogen taxi service in Europe, has abandoned hydrogen technology and shifted exclusively to electric vehicles, reflecting the broader global failure of hydrogen-powered transportation ventures. Founded in Paris in 2015, Hype initially expanded rapidly by leveraging substantial subsidies from French government agencies, regional authorities, and the European Union. Key funding came from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), the Île-de-France region, and the EU’s Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), which supported both vehicle acquisition and the costly hydrogen refueling infrastructure. This extensive public funding masked the underlying economic challenges of hydrogen taxis, which remained prohibitively expensive without subsidies. A critical factor in sustaining Hype’s operations was its partnership with Toyota, which provided free hydrogen fuel with leased Mirai fuel cell vehicles for several years, eliminating a major operational cost and creating a misleading impression of economic viability. By 2020, Hype operated Europe’s largest hydrogen taxi fleet and was prominently featured in