Electric Trucks Set to Outpace Hydrogen Rivals
While hydrogen-fueled large trucks were initially envisioned as the future of environmentally friendly road transport, they might soon find themselves confined to niche markets in Europe, overshadowed by electric trucks.
In the outskirts of Trondheim, western Norway, food wholesaler Asko has been conducting trials since 2020 with four hydrogen fuel cell trucks provided by Swedish manufacturer Scania. The experience, however, has been a mixed bag.
Issues such as integration challenges, faulty components, and a temporary halt following a charging station explosion near Oslo have resulted in the trucks being operational only 30 to 40 percent of the time.
Asko’s Project Head Optimistic Despite Limited Usage
Acknowledging the limited usage, Asko project head Roger Saether concedes, “They’re not on the road as much as we would have liked. That’s the least we can say. But we’re convinced that it will all work out in the end.”
When operational, these trucks, boasting a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles), serve supermarkets across an extensive region. For shorter deliveries, the company utilizes battery-powered vehicles, which currently have a shorter range.
The industry’s accepted practice of using hydrogen lorries for heavy loads over long distances and electric ones for lighter loads over short distances stems from the respective advantages and disadvantages of each technology.
However, there is a shift in the landscape.
Fedor Unterlohner, freight manager at the NGO Transport and Environment, notes, “Now what we’re seeing is that contrary to a few years ago, electric trucks and buses are actually playing an increasingly big role, and we also see a very important role for them to play in the decarbonization process.“
Tackling Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Heavy-duty vehicles contribute to six percent of the European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, Brussels has set a target for the industry to reduce emissions by 45 percent compared to 2019 levels by 2030, and by 90 percent by 2040.
A study by German authorities indicates that truckmakers anticipate 63 percent of new lorries sold in Europe in 2030 to be “zero-emission” vehicles, with electric trucks comprising 85 percent. Advances in electric car technology have alleviated previous concerns about electric trucks, distinguishing them from hydrogen-powered alternatives.
Considering that most heavy trucks in Europe cover fewer than 800 kilometers a day, electric batteries are increasingly viable, especially with drivers’ regulated breaks allowing for vehicle recharge. Ongoing improvements in battery energy storage capabilities are expected to minimize weight differences compared to diesel trucks.
Addressing concerns about infrastructure, megawatt charging stations are in development, poised to deliver ten times more power than the fastest charging stations currently available.
Economies of Scale
Electric Trucks’ Cost Efficiency in the Transport Sector
In terms of cost, a critical consideration given the tight margins in the transport sector, electric trucks have a distinct advantage. The purchase prices benefit from the economies of scale driven by the rapid advancement of electric car batteries. Operating costs are also economical, as electric trucks require minimal maintenance, and electricity is typically much less expensive than green hydrogen.
However, there are scenarios where hydrogen lorries might be a more prudent choice. For instance, when driving with two drivers in Europe, enabling them to bypass regulated breaks, or in remote regions, on islands without a grid connection, or during specialized tasks like transporting an 80-ton wind turbine through Germany, necessitating road closures and night work.
Even though Scania, the supplier of the four hydrogen trucks to Asko, acknowledges these considerations, the company has chosen to emphasize electric heavy trucks due to their cost advantage in the overall operational economy and fuel efficiency. Scania senior official Peter Forsberg explained, “For some geographies and operations, we see that hydrogen-fueled vehicles might be a viable technology. Therefore, we have initiated some activities to learn how the hydrogen ecosystem might play out.”
Read the original article on: Tech Xplore
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