First Hydrogen, Siemens Energy, PayPal - Innovative growth with hydrogen and its own currency

First Hydrogen - Positive study results for hydrogen use in logistics companies

In a significant step towards sustainable mobility, India will unveil its first hydrogen-powered fuel cell bus on September 25 as part of a test trial. The hydrogen-powered bus thus points the way for India on its way to environmentally friendly and independent economic solutions.

IndianOil, owned by India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is thus launching a comprehensive program of 15 fuel-cell buses powered by green hydrogen. The tests are taking place on selected routes in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the first results are available from a trial undertaken by Canadian company First Hydrogen together with the UK fleet operator Rivus. This trial analyzes the performance of hydrogen-powered vans compared to electric battery-powered vans. Pure electric mobility has some weaknesses in the commercial vehicle industry. For example, battery-powered designs are often too heavy, and the range gained from a charge is too short to make it cost-effective to use in logistics.

Rivus' report provides an objective initial assessment of their experience with First Hydrogen's FCEV. The UK-based fleet management provider concluded in its report: "Overall, the First Hydrogen vehicle performed very well during the trials and appears to be much more robust than a BEV in terms of how various load factors affect vehicle efficiency."

The trial deliberately simulated the situation that logistics vans go through on a daily basis. Numerous starts and stops at various delivery points and varying load capacities due to decreasing cargo. First Hydrogen's vehicles were initially designed for long distances but are equipped with hybrid powertrains (hydrogen fuel cell and battery) better suited for short trips in urban areas. The First Hydrogen vehicle's regenerative braking recharges the battery, especially during frequent starts and stops, such as those found in densely populated areas and on routes with many stops. This is especially important for delivery vehicles, where drivers may make more than 100 stops a day. The study proves that hydrogen vehicles in the commercial vehicle industry are more robust and better suited for logistics.

Another plus is that it takes about 5 minutes to refuel First Hydrogen's FCEV with hydrogen, as opposed to about 5 hours to charge a comparable electric vehicle. As a result, the vehicles can be used for longer and offer fleet operators more flexibility. Those interested in learning more about First Hydrogen's roadmap can ask Robert Campbell, CEO Energy Division, questions live at the 8th International Investment Forum. To register for the event, click here.

Siemens Energy - Shares on the upswing due to hydrogen deal with Air Liquide

After a somewhat turbulent period following the takeover of the troubled wind energy company Siemens Gamesa, hydrogen, of all things, is now bringing a silver lining to the horizon of the energy company. Siemens Energy will supply Air Liquide with 12 electrolysers, which have a total capacity of 200 megawatts (MW). These electrolysers will be used to produce renewable hydrogen as part of the Normand'Hy project in Normandy, France. Shares rose 2.2% following the news.

Starting in 2026, Air Liquide's plant in the Port-Jérôme industrial zone will produce 28,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually for industry and the mobility sector.

As part of the joint venture between Air Liquide and Siemens Energy, the Normand'Hy project will be one of the first to be supplied by Siemens Energy's new electrolyser production plant in Berlin. Industrial series production of the stacks that are at the heart of the PEM electrolysers will begin this November. Industrial-scale production of its units is scheduled to start in November, and production is expected to ramp up to at least 3 GW annually by 2025.

PayPal - Achieving greater independence and growth with its own Coin

Anyone selling goods or services in online business relies on the US payment service provider PayPal. With the arrival of the new CEO, Alex Chriss, who has been leading the Company since August, further business expansion measures are being implemented. While First Hydrogen focuses on zero-emission propulsion for logistics fleets that deliver all the online-purchased goods from small and medium-sized businesses to their customers, PayPal is focusing on real-time payments.

The BRICS coalition is currently attracting global attention with rumors of the introduction of a gold-backed currency. BRICS, originally the acronym for the participating coalition partners Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is steadily growing with the addition of more states. As of January 1, 2024, six new countries will become part of the alliance: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The accumulation of gold in the central banks of these countries suggests their clear strategic intent regarding their planned currency.

PayPal, meanwhile, is focusing on expanding its own cryptocurrency, PYUSD. The so-called stablecoin is based on blockchain technology, backed 100% by US dollar deposits, short-term US Treasury bonds and similar liquid assets. The PYUSD currency is denominated in US dollars. This means that its value or price is denominated in US dollars, regardless of the local currency or asset to which it refers. PYUSD has been "greenlisted" by the New York State Department of Financial Services, making it easier for virtual currency institutions licensed in New York to support PYUSD. As of 2022, there were 35 million merchant accounts on PayPal.

The payment company is initially targeting local companies such as Venmo, a private transportation company similar to Uber, as it expands its currency. At the same time, PayPal is expanding its cooperation with Uber. So, it is only a matter of time before the PYUSD currency is also used there. For PayPal, having its own currency means it can at least manage payment flows in case of significant disruptions in the fiat currency world.

First Hydrogen is driving the use of hydrogen in logistics companies. Hydrogen is currently being tested in public transportation in the fifth-largest economy. In parallel, First Hydrogen is announcing promising initial test results with hydrogen-powered delivery vehicles. For instance, the regenerative braking combined with the hybrid technology of First Hydrogen's vehicle allows it to handle over 100 stops per day, which is crucial for the logistics industry. Siemens Energy is also betting on hydrogen. The Company has signed a hydrogen deal with Air Liquide and will supply 12 electrolysers with a total capacity of 200 megawatts for the Normand'Hy project in France. This project will produce 28,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. Siemens Energy plans to increase its production of electrolysers to at least three gigawatts per year by 2025 to support hydrogen projects worldwide. PayPal is investing in its own cryptocurrency, PYUSD, which is backed by US dollar deposits and will be used in various use cases, including Venmo and potentially in collaboration with companies like Uber. This gives PayPal independence and flexibility in the financial world.