The end of October is full of good news from the global hydrogen market. There is especially a lot going on right now in the hydrogen heavy-duty sector. In recent days, Nikola, Hyzon, and Hdrive have announced exceptional projects and plans for the development of vehicles and infrastructure for heavy freight transport.
It’s not long since we pointed out that the use of hydrogen in the decarbonization of transportation will be essential and profitable for long-haul and freight transportation. That’s because the use of BEVs at this point in technology development is extremely difficult and inefficient.
It is hard to expect that in the coming years it will be possible to achieve sufficient battery capacity to guarantee long-distance rides without compromising the ergonomics and payload capacity of the vehicles. Simply charging them would require the construction of an infrastructure capable of handling dozens, if not hundreds, of such vehicles per day, usually during shift times. Against this backdrop, a significant advantage of using hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) is the short refueling time and the provision of long range on a single complete fill-up.
Manufacturers recognize this potential, so today we have prepared an overview of the most interesting projects announced in the past weeks.
Nikola and 60 new hydrogen fueling stations by 2026.
US truck manufacturer Nikola Corporation has announced that it will build 60 new hydrogen fueling stations over the next four years. Undoubtedly, the decision is influenced by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), announced by the U.S. Senate in August, which provides tax incentives for the development of domestic investment in clean energy technologies, including renewable hydrogen (we wrote more about the bill here).
The company stresses that it is the IRA that will bolster efforts to create a hydrogen infrastructure network for FCEVs through tax credits for clean hydrogen ($3/kg of hydrogen produced), an expanded credit for carbon sequestration, and an expansion of investment credits for renewable energy and hydrogen production. Nikola also expects to achieve savings through an alternative fuel IRA credit, which could be up to $100,000 for hydrogen dispensing equipment. In addition, the states of California and Oregon offer a low-carbon fuel standard that includes credits for hydrogen, making it cost-competitive with diesel, among others. Interestingly, another state-Washington-is expected to launch a similar program by 2024.
Incentives also apply to the production and sale of hydrogen vehicles themselves. Nikola points out that the company’s factory can apply for subsidies, providing credits of, among other things, $10/kWh to produce battery modules (for both FCEVs and BEVs). Likewise, truck buyers will be able to expect to obtain a clean vehicle loan worth up to $40,000.
Hyzon and FCEV truck demonstration
At the American Trucking Associations conference, Hyzon Motors demonstrated a model of an electric truck powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The demonstration provided the opportunity to drive the Class 8 model on display, equipped with Hyzon’s hydrogen fuel cell system and electric drivetrain. The truck has a range of 350-500 miles and is expected to take less than 15 minutes to refuel.
Currently, the Class 8 truck is to be in the fleet testing phase. These are expected to provide essential information about the vehicle, its efficiency, and its performance.
HDrive and 5-year deal to supply 12,000 heavy-duty FCEVs
Australia’s HDrive is leading a rapid expansion in the heavy-duty hydrogen vehicle market. On October 20, the company announced an agreement with Wisdom Motors and Pure Hydrogen to manufacture, distribute, sell, and purchase up to 12,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) over five years. Wisdom Motors, along with major shareholder Ballard, will handle the design and construction of the vehicles at the company’s headquarters in China. HDrive will handle the procurement of the vehicles, purchasing them, and leasing them to customers. In addition, it is envisioned to provide the appropriate infrastructure to operate the trucks.
Hydrogen vehicles are expected to enjoy support in Australia from the government and industry representatives, who are interested in replacing existing fleets with clean, emission-free alternatives. Individual states including Washington, Queensland, and Victoria have pledged to make significant investments in hydrogen technology, which is expected to contribute to Australia’s market growth and the goals set out in the Hydrogen Strategy.
Source: fuelcellsworks.com
