Hydrogen Arrives in Italy: Preview of the Station in Milan with the New Hyundai Nexo
Hydrogen is no longer a mirage confined to prototypes at auto shows or the valleys of South Tyrol. We went to Rho, on the outskirts of Milan, to preview what will become one of the most strategic refueling stations in Northern Italy. To make the most of our visit, we also tested the new Hyundai NEXO, the third-generation hydrogen fuel cell SUV that promises to eliminate range anxiety with a full tank in just five minutes. You can find everything in our video:
SerraH2Valle: The Green Corridor of Milan Serravalle
The project, named SerraH2Valle, is the concrete response from Milano Serravalle - Milano Tangenziali to the need for infrastructure for sustainable mobility. We're not talking about an isolated experiment, but rather a network of 5 strategically located stations designed to connect Lombardy and Piedmont along European TEN-T corridors.
Where can we refuel by June 2026?
All stations in the network will be operational by June 2026, with an investment of around 55 million euros funded by PNRR and EU funds:
- Rho (A50 Tangenziale Ovest): southbound (the site visited today, built on a former Tamoil area).
- Carugate (A51 Tangenziale Est): 2 stations (one for each direction).
- Tortona (A7 Milano-Genova): 2 stations (one for each direction).
Each station has a nominal capacity of about 1 ton of hydrogen per day, sufficient to support not only private cars but also heavy logistics on an operational scale.
What does a hydrogen station look like?
Forget about the classic electric charging station. Here, the technology is impressive. Hydrogen arrives via cylinder trucks and is stored at high pressures: 900 bar and 500 bar. To ensure efficient refueling, the gas must be cooled drastically: refrigeration units take it down to about -40°C before dispensing.
| Feature | Standard 700 bar | Standard 350 bar |
|---|---|---|
| Intended Use | Light vehicles and cars | Heavy vehicles, buses, and logistics |
| Technical Advantage | High energy density in little space | Fast dispensing for large volumes |
| Dispensing Temperature | Up to -40°C for efficiency and safety | Optimized thermal management for heavy loads |
| Plant Capacity (nominal) | About 1 ton of hydrogen per day | About 1 ton of hydrogen per day |
| Refueling Times | About 5 minutes (e.g. Hyundai NEXO) | Varies based on vehicle capacity |
On the right, you can see the truck cylinder arrival stall, in the center are the cylinders on-site at various pressures, and to the left are the refrigeration units.
The Rho station is designed to be operational 24 hours a day, always with staff present. Our regulations prohibit self-service hydrogen refueling, so there will be four work shifts to cover the entire opening hours.
Inside the on-site office, we also got a look at the control software for the entire station. The hydrogen pressure is monitored at every point in the circuit, as is the temperature, thanks to thermal cameras placed throughout the facility. From Germany, where many of the equipment comes from, they can always see the situation remotely, including any errors or anomalies. Clearly, the employees present here will not be simple 'gas station attendants,' but rather appropriately trained and skilled personnel to operate an uncommon facility.
The refueling unit is larger than those commonly used for electric car charging and is super modern, with touchscreen controls. We also witnessed the dispensing operations, and it’s interesting to note how, after each refueling, the nozzle that gets put back in its housing is 'cleaned' of any hydrogen residue by a high-pressure air blast. So, if you happen to use one of these stations, don’t worry, the loud noise is not a release of dangerous gas, but just the final cleaning with compressed air.
Test Drive: New Hyundai NEXO
The star of the day was the new Hyundai NEXO. From the outside, you immediately notice the new design language 'Art of Steel.' It's an imposing SUV (about 4.75 meters) with retractable door handles and a lighting signature reminiscent of Hyundai's electric car lineup.
Driving the NEXO feels like driving a high-end electric vehicle. The powertrain delivers 204 HP (150 kW) and 350 Nm of torque, ensuring a smooth and silent acceleration (0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds).
The real magic happens under the hood: the fuel cells combine hydrogen from the three tanks (total capacity of 6.69 kg) with external oxygen to produce electricity. This energy powers the motor and recharges a small buffer battery of about 2.5 kWh, which acts as a buffer for sudden acceleration and energy recovery during braking. The new NEXO boasts:
- Record Range: 826 km (WLTP cycle).
- Practicality: Unlike battery-electric vehicles, here the V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) has an integrated domestic socket to power external devices using the energy from the Fuel Cells.
- Space: Generous trunk capacity up to 510 liters, perfect for a family.
- Refueling: Between 5 and 6 minutes.
As mentioned, the feeling is practically identical to a normal electric car, except that the NEXO, proportionally to its size, does not have the exaggerated power that many battery cars have accustomed us to. During the day, we also drove the previous generation, and it’s worth noting how in the new vehicle, the suspension has been tuned much more European-style. The old NEXO was indeed very soft and prone to rolling, while with the new model, this behavior has disappeared, reflecting greater attention to our market.
Inside, the vehicle can easily be confused with one from the IONIQ range, due to the economies of scale on components and a very similar approach to the organization of the cockpit. This choice could prove beneficial to attract customers already accustomed to Hyundai's electric ecosystem.
The Future is a Corridor (Not Just Lombardy)
The importance of Rho and the other stations of Milano Serravalle lies in the creation of a logistics corridor. A heavy vehicle or a Nordic tourist can now travel from the ports of Holland to Genoa with the certainty of finding standardized refueling points.
Of course, Italy is still in an early phase compared to Germany and France (which are leading the transition with hundreds of active stations), but projections from H2IT are clear: by 2050 we could have over 8.5 million hydrogen cars on our roads.
The Price?
The new Hyundai NEXO starts at about 73,000 euros (around 76,000 euros for the configuration we tested). It is not for everyone, but it’s the price of cutting-edge technology that allows for drastic reductions in CO2 emissions without changing our travel habits.
The Rho station will officially open in June.