Shaping the future of trucking with hydrogen and electric

The U.S. commercial trucking industry is on the cusp of major change. Diesel trucks, which have long been the backbone of the freight market, are being re-evaluated for their environmental impact since transportation sector contributed to 29 percent of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.¹ The push towards more eco-friendly alternatives like hydrogen (Fuel Cell) and electric (EVs) is growing.

There are significant challenges to overcome for each of these technologies:

• Electric trucks have inadequate charging infrastructure, long charging times, and the significant weight of batteries reduce payload capacity.
• FCEVs suffer from significantly higher upfront and fueling costs, limited infrastructure, technological and logistical hurdles.

Both of these technologies are currently dependent on generous Government regulations – federal and state to make them commercially viable. Further, their limitations make them suited to specific use cases. For example,

• Electric trucks are more suited for shorter and fixed routes and especially for lighter payload applications such as parcel and packaged goods.
• FCEVs offer promising solutions for heavier payloads and quicker refueling times, making them viable for heavy duty-cycle applications such as Drayage.

We are optimistic about the long-term prospects of FCEVs in commercial trucking, anticipating technological advancements, economies of scale, and government and industry efforts to reduce costs and expand infrastructure.  Hydrogen could potentially serve as the powertrain of choice for long-haul trucking in the future once the current hurdles are overcome in the next decade.

Footnote:

¹Source: US EPA; US Transportation Sector GHG Emissions (1990-2021). [Slide 6]