Is Hydrogen Really Trucking’s Fuel of the Future?

Fuel of the Future

What’s the State of Hydrogen Fuel Going into 2023?

There’s been a lot of talk about the future of energy in the trucking industry as of late, and while electric seems to be stealing the spotlight at the moment, hydrogen fuel-cell technology is always being touted somewhere in the background. The truth is that, while hydrogen as a fuel source isn’t quite taking the United States by storm, other areas of the globe have already seen large shifts toward the acceptance of hydrogen fuel.

 

Hydrogen is Already a Force Around the World

Europe is currently seeing lots of testing by companies like Volvo Trucks involving engines powered by hydrogen fuel-cell technology, and Asia and Australia have a similar interest in seeing this technology evolve. In fact, even back in 2021, over 200 hydrogen fuel initiatives had been created, most of which were centered around these three regions. This is according to the Hydrogen Council, a collaborative body in partnership with McKinsey and Company.

 

Why is the U.S. Lagging Behind?

When looking at the United States, it’s not so much that North America is lagging behind the rest of the world in researching hydrogen fuel, but rather, it’s that it takes time and resources to build green hydrogen processing sites. Currently, plans are underway by companies like Cummins and others to build green hydrogen production plants in Mississippi, Texas and further north in Quebec.

While the United States may be a bit late to the party, researchers are full-steam ahead in looking for hydrogen solutions. It’s estimated that some of the sites in development can produce upwards of 3,000 tons of hydrogen per year, and when multiplied across North America, this can mean lots of availability. Additionally, transport of hydrogen is relatively easy and affordable, meaning this potential new mainstream fuel source could be on the verge of making big waves across the United States and elsewhere in North America.

 

The Unknowns

Currently, the big unknown remains how large of a financial hit the transition to alternative fuels is going to cause the trucking industry. Making big moves to purchase new equipment and retrofit existing equipment isn’t going to be cheap, so for now, trucking company executives and finance professionals are taking a cautious approach to the situation.

 

Additional Credit: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10181511/is-hydrogen-really-truckings-fuel-of-the-future

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