Hydrogen trucks struggle to make inroads over EVs
Hydrogen fuel cells offer several advantages over EVs when it comes to heavy vehicles. But while EV technology is charging ahead, the cost of hydrogen remains stubbornly high, making it unlikely to prevail in the short term.
Consumers are increasingly falling in love with EVs, but the transition to lower-emissions heavy vehicles is stubbornly stuck in first gear.
High capital costs, range limitations, low payload capacity and a lack of charging infrastructure have been holding up the adoption of zero emission heavy vehicles. But fleet owners will potentially have a greater range of technologies to choose from than consumers, because hydrogen-powered vehicles are emerging as an alternative.
Hydrogen solves some of the nagging issues that come with battery-powered heavy vehicles. Fuel cells weigh a fraction of that of an EV battery, so the reduction in payload capacity is markedly less in a hydrogen vehicle, which means heavy vehicles would not be restricted from travelling on certain roads or bridges and could carry more freight than an equivalent EV.
Hydrogen makes particular sense for vehicle fleets which are returned to a common location at the end of each day. Daron Brinsdon, integrated development solutions manager at Teletrac Navman, a software provider for vehicle fleets, said municipal councils which have been looking to EVs could use hydrogen fuel cell models instead.
