H2 fuel cell annual truck sales through 2035 (Information Trends 2021)
In a context of dire instability of the oil prices, green hydrogen appears as a beacon of hope for an affordable, sovereign and decarbonated energy. Even if the market and the underlaying technologies have not reached their maturity yet, it could soon enough become an alternative for heavy-duty freight.
For the last century, fuel has been the go-to solution to tract, lift or propel unmovable weights. Hence, green hydrogen, with its great potency, is the usual suspect for vehicles ranging from boats to trucks, from planes to trains as opposed to batteries. The whole ecosystem is coming together to advance the better solutions as fast as possible at the lowest costs. Joint ventures between H2 producers and car manufacters (Plug Power x Renault), car manufacturers and car manufacturers (Volvo x Daimler) are the sign of an agitated sector.
It is, indeed, necessary when numbers as high as 110 000 hydrogen trucks are expected to roam on European roads by 2030. (Roland Berger 2020) Large scale development of green hydrogen mobility will drive costs down in an environment of volatile prices for carbon-heavy solutions. What was a delusional dream few years ago is becoming more and more real in the wake of climate and geopolitical turmoil.
Written by Pierre Flin