PPF Group ex-manager Tomáš Budník has been building his own investment group for two years now, which has an IT and industrial branch. In the industrial part, he is currently working on the production of mobile hydrogen filling stations. They are to bridge the period before the infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations in the Czech Republic, which is planned by the ministries in cooperation with private companies.
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“I understand that our solution is not forever. When hydrogen technology takes hold, large manufacturers or companies such as Unipetrol, which are from the petroleum industry, will build the infrastructure. But it will take about five to ten years. We want to use this bridging period, “Tomáš Budník, the founder and owner of Thein, told SZ Byznys.
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You’re starting to deal with hydrogen. How did you get there?
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In the industrial part of our group, the primary area for us is railway transport and energy engineering. And locomotives, of course, run on either diesel or electricity. There is talk of electrifying routes, but of course, if you’ve been on a train lately, there are still a lot of regions that don’t have electrification and there are motorbikes.
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So, as in the automotive industry, ecology is being addressed on the railways. And what to ride if not diesel?
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So there are projects where production hauliers start thinking about how to replace diesel or how to extend its life. These can be technologies such as particulate filters and compliance standards for diesel locomotives. Or, let’s say, redesigning hydrogen-powered locomotives.
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Of course, converting a locomotive to hydrogen does not consist in putting another internal combustion engine instead of an internal combustion engine. First you have to put a fuel cell there and the locomotive is more or less electric. That fuel cell produces electricity.
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So the impulse came from your customers, such as the locomotive manufacturer CZ Loko?
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We started talking about where the development is actually going. Because you can have a prototype locomotive (by the way, ČD has now discussed that it will write a concept for a hydrogen locomotive), that is the first thing. But you need to refuel the locomotive. And you need to make it and transport it somewhere. And that is the integration of several technologies.
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If someone wants to have hydrogen locomotives or buses or trucks, they need to be able to refuel somewhere.
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We suddenly got into a situation where if someone wants to have hydrogen locomotives or buses or trucks, they need to be able to refuel somewhere.
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Tomas Budnik (52)
- Czech manager and businessman
- from 2014 to 2017, he was the CEO of O2 Czech Republic
- in 2020 he founded the investment group Thein
- graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering VŠB-TU Ostrava
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Fuel stations are not here yet. For example, the Ostrava industrialist Jan Světlík is known for having a hydrogen car, but he has to go to Vienna to refuel.
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There are only two hydrogen car manufacturers in passenger cars, Hyundai and Toyota. We have come to have agreements with mobile service station manufacturers. And think of those mobile gas stations as containers that take you somewhere to fill them with hydrogen. You will take them to the depot, where the locomotive or bus will then be refueled.
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We figured we had to help customers solve the drawdown.
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Who makes mobile fuel stations?
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We have an agreement with a German manufacturer of these filling stations and we are discussing with Packet or other customers that they will put such a filling station in their depots. Of course, it is up to them whether they will buy hydrogen at Pražská plynárenská or from another producer.
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The moment we discussed that we were also able to deliver a mobile filling station, other carriers suddenly approached us.
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From my point of view, the technology is suitable for someone who either runs between depots, in the Czech Republic it is, for example, the company Packeta or the national postal operator. Or simply municipalities that own transport companies that can drive to the depot to refuel buses.
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So, for example, are you dealing with Packet to supply her with a hydrogen car or a gas station?
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We are negotiating with Packeta on a pilot project of one delivery and we are also negotiating the delivery of another vehicle fleet and a filling station in the form of a service. Thein Industry has a partnership with a supply supplier, so we were able to provide it (it’s a service, don’t buy it).
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Why can’t the Packet simply buy the van itself?
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Today, it is not easy to get hydrogen cars according to the specification (typically the delivery is available after the order after a year). The companies do not have our contacts or expertise.
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Thein Group
- investment group of manager and investor Tomáš Budník
- focuses on technology companies in the field of ICT, cybersecurity and industry from the Czech Republic and Slovakia
- The industrial part includes, for example, custom production of Ponec machine parts, supplier of spare parts for rolling stock maintenance. Railway supplier, production of components and stainless steel weldments for Cotring rolling stock, Lokorent Services locomotive rental, development of hydrogen technologies
- the technological part includes, for example, the supplier of ICT infrastructure ebo Aitcom Network, as well as the sale and service of computer technology CSystem or the provider of platforms Cross
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How much does the van and gas station actually cost?
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Today, the hydrogen car is at least at the same price level as a luxury electric car. For example, a delivery from Hyvia on the Renault platform costs approximately 120,000 euros (2.9 million crowns) depending on the equipment. The price for mobile filling stations is now around 1.5 to 1.8 million euros (36 to 44 million crowns).
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Today we are able to help customers. In Central Europe, they choose both a truck and a bus, or discuss things like tractors or forklifts on industrial sites. This is our competence, plus of course the gas station itself.
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In addition, we are preparing another project, and these are backup resources. I mean, a backup unit that is used in hospitals or industrial areas, for example. Where you need electricity but there is no infrastructure. Or you need a backup power supply that lasts about two or four hours when there is a failure.
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We have a manufacturer that already produces these backup sources today. You pour hydrogen into them and they generate electricity.
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Is this another thing you want to offer?
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Yes. We have a manufacturer that already produces these backup sources today. You pour hydrogen into them, and they generate electricity.
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Tell me more, what is your added value when a German manufacturer makes it for you and you drop it on a Czech company?
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Our added value is that we understand the ecosystem. We know how and when to choose and what technology.
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Our ultimate goal is that we negotiate cooperation with those manufacturers so that we can then produce most of the technology here. We do machining, welding and their combinations in our companies, even in co-production.
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So we also have a specific agreement with Proton Motors, which is the European leader in fuel cells, and we are able to use their technology.
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Now you’re testing the market, who would buy these portable gas stations?
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Exactly. I understand that our solution is not forever. When hydrogen technology takes hold, large manufacturers or companies such as Unipetrol, which are from the petroleum industry, will build the infrastructure. But it will take about five to ten years. We want to take advantage of that bridging period.
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