Heavy-Duty fuel cell vehicles is an area where more effort can be particularly helpful, as electrifying heavy-duty trucks is more challenging than passenger vehicles, making hydrogen a possible alternative

Long-haul heavy-duty trucks and commercial fleets make up one of hydrogen’s most attractive use cases due to mileage requirements, high utilization levels, payload considerations, and the economics of large-scale hydrogen production and consumption

For heavy and long-distance trucking, FCEVs are the superior solution. For these trucks, the low energy density of batteries is a significant disadvantage. A battery for a 40-ton truck would add around three tons of payload to the vehicle, already accounting for the advantage of the electric motors compared to the combustion engines

Hydrogen can play a valuable role decarbonizing long-haul, heavy-payload trucks. These could be cheaper to run using hydrogen fuel cells than diesel engines by 2031. 

Compared to LDVs, heavier trucks have radically different requirements with respect to charging infrastructure. Hydrogen FCVs can help fill the gaps left by electrification in some heavy vehicles, in regions or duty cycles where batteries struggle. 

Deploying zero-emission material handling equipment, which includes forklifts and other machinery, is particularly important for indoor operations. Quick refueling (2 mins) is cited a benefit of FCs: in contrast with battery-electric equipment, which forces drives to return to a central location during a shift to swap out batteries, H2 refueling can be situated more strategically throughout the warehouse 

Fuel cells also performance particularly well in refrigerated environment, whereas cold temperatures degrade batteries. Hydrogen fuel cells may also be used to help decarbonize heavy off-road applications such as mining and agricultural equipment. 

…long-haul trucking has focused on hydrogen-powered fuel and hydrogen combustion, which are attractive for two reasons. For one, faster refueling and greater range can increase the uptime potential for trucks; furthermore, their lower weight compared with batteries can increase payload capacity. Compared with storing energy in batteries, hydrogen-fueled trucks can refuel faster and carry a lower weight penalty because tanks weigh considerably less than batteries. Operationally, hydrogen trucks can therefore be deployed on a similar scale with diesel trucks but with the benefit of producing no emissions. 

The role of hydrogen in transport depends on how far technology develops. Batteries are currently a more attractive option than hydrogen and fuel cells for light-duty vehicles. Hydrogen and hydrogen-derived synthetic fuels, such as ammonia and methanol, may have a more important role in heavy vehicles, shipping, and aviation

[in the NZE Scenario] Global production of low‐emissions hydrogen has to grow exponentially, reaching around 90 million tons (Mt) by 2030, enabling emissions reductions in industry and heavy‐duty transport applications. 

…in certain applications vehicles are often double-shifted, whereby the vehicles are driven for two consecutive shifts by two separate drivers. For these applications, waiting for battery vehicles to recharge is not operationally viable, even for relatively short-haul applications. This presents another potential use case where hydrogen trucks can offer an advantage.

Long-haul heavy-duty trucks and commercial fleets make up one of hydrogen’s most attractive use cases due to mileage requirements, high utilization levels, payload considerations, and the economics of large-scale hydrogen production and consumption

For heavy and long-distance trucking, FCEVs are the superior solution. For these trucks, the low energy density of batteries is a significant disadvantage. A battery for a 40-ton truck would add around three tons of payload to the vehicle, already accounting for the advantage of the electric motors compared to the combustion engines

Compared to LDVs, heavier trucks have radically different requirements with respect to charging infrastructure. Hydrogen FCVs can help fill the gaps left by electrification in some heavy vehicles, in regions or duty cycles where batteries struggle. 

Deploying zero-emission material handling equipment, which includes forklifts and other machinery, is particularly important for indoor operations. Quick refueling (2 mins) is cited a benefit of FCs: in contrast with battery-electric equipment, which forces drives to return to a central location during a shift to swap out batteries, H2 refueling can be situated more strategically throughout the warehouse 

Fuel cells also performance particularly well in refrigerated environment, whereas cold temperatures degrade batteries. Hydrogen fuel cells may also be used to help decarbonize heavy off-road applications such as mining and agricultural equipment. 

OEMs are betting big that the fleet ZEV market will expand dramatically, and FCEVs will provide the zero-emission solution for duty cycles that are not a realistic fit for BEVs, specifically long-haul. 

Logistics operators stressed the importance of H2 vehicles in areas where deployment of battery electric vehicles to replace existing fleets would lead to significant grid constraints and would therefore require grid upgrade works

FC tractor-trailers are compelling for their operational benefits relative to BEV, due to short refueling times and lighter tractors. Hydrogen tractor-trailers do not face weight or time penalties as their weight and refueling times are comparable to diesel.

…long-haul trucking has focused on hydrogen-powered fuel and hydrogen combustion, which are attractive for two reasons. For one, faster refueling and greater range can increase the uptime potential for trucks; furthermore, their lower weight compared with batteries can increase payload capacity. Compared with storing energy in batteries, hydrogen-fueled trucks can refuel faster and carry a lower weight penalty because tanks weigh considerably less than batteries. Operationally, hydrogen trucks can therefore be deployed on a similar scale with diesel trucks but with the benefit of producing no emissions.