Hydrogen’s property as a low-density gas makes it particularly tricky as a diesel replacement. For hydrogen to be useful as a truck fuel, it must either be compressed or liquified (see the section on hydrogen's chemical and physical properties), making refueling complex. Hydrogen fueling station major components include high-pressure compressors, hydrogen storge pressure vessels, hydrogen gas chillers and high-pressure gas dispensers. In all cases, this technology is actively developing and the method(s) for hydrogen storage and dispensing to trucks continues to evolve. The following are considerations for hydrogen storage, delivery and dispensing from the fueling station to the vehicle, including tradeoffs as the technologies mature. ​
​ Hydrogen Storage & Delivery at the Station:
Today, hydrogen is delivered to the station by truck. Commercial stations are trending to above ground cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage because liquid hydrogen can be delivered to the station in larger, tank truck quantities and therefore at lower cost, where cryogenic liquid hydrogen in quantities up to 1,600 kg is delivered in a single load, which could support twenty hydrogen fills of 80 kg. ​
​In the early market (e.g., demonstration phase), where there is lesser hydrogen demand, gaseous storage and delivery offers economical option. Such stations take deliveries of pre-compressed hydrogen (up to 900 kg/day). This higher delivered pressure reduces some components at the station and therefore cost. Manufacturers are also developing pre-fabricated gaseous hydrogen fueling stations that can expedite infrastructure buildout (see the discussion on pre-fabricated hydrogen fueling stations). ​
In the future, when hydrogen demand is high, pipelines have potential to deliver gaseous hydrogen inexpensively and therefore lower cost. In the United States, there is one pipeline delivered hydrogen station in Torrance, Ca, that serves the light-duty automotive market.