Hydrogen Trucks and why they do not make sense!

Hydrogen trucks, while promising in theory, face several significant challenges that make them less practical compared to alternatives like battery-electric trucks. The production of hydrogen is energy-intensive, especially when sourced from non-renewable methods, reducing its environmental benefits. Hydrogen infrastructure, including refueling stations, is sparse and costly to develop, limiting widespread adoption. Additionally, hydrogen trucks face efficiency drawbacks, as converting hydrogen into usable energy involves multiple stages, leading to greater energy loss compared to direct electric power. These factors, combined with the declining cost and improving range of battery-electric trucks, make hydrogen trucks a less viable option in the near term.

Hydrogen Trucks: A Theoretical Promise with Practical Limitations

While hydrogen-powered trucks offer a theoretical appeal, they encounter several intrinsic barriers when juxtaposed with battery-electric alternatives. Hydrogen production is exceptionally energy-intensive, particularly when derived from non-renewable sources, thus diminishing its environmental advantages. The infrastructure for hydrogen, including refueling stations, remains sparse and prohibitively expensive to establish, hindering widespread deployment. Furthermore, hydrogen trucks suffer from inherent inefficiencies due to the multiple stages required to convert hydrogen into usable energy, exacerbating energy losses relative to the direct energy transfer seen in battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). These challenges, alongside the declining costs and increasing range of BEVs, suggest that hydrogen trucks are an untenable option for decarbonizing heavy transport in the near term.

Hydrogen Trucks: Addressing the Misconceptions

Despite the stagnation of hydrogen-powered cars, advocates have refocused efforts on hydrogen trucks. Several arguments are frequently advanced to rationalize their use, including the superior energy density of hydrogen, the potential for faster refueling times, economies of scale, and grid flexibility. However, these propositions neglect hydrogen's fundamental inefficiencies, as highlighted in the seminal research of Bossel and Shinnar. A closer examination reveals that hydrogen’s theoretical advantages are mitigated by practical and economic obstacles that significantly reduce its viability.

Energy Density: More Complex than It Appears

The commonly touted energy density of hydrogen (33.3 kWh/kg) conceals practical challenges. While this figure suggests a superior energy density by mass compared to batteries, the storage of hydrogen at high pressures (350 bar for trucks) necessitates large, heavy, and costly reinforced tanks, which offset any gains. The composite materials required for these tanks, along with their limited lifespan due to wear and tear, introduce significant operational costs. Moreover, hydrogen’s volumetric energy density (21 kg/m3 at 350 bar) remains substantially lower than that of batteries. This volumetric inefficiency, coupled with the space inefficiencies of cylindrical tanks, underscores the challenges of integrating hydrogen storage into vehicle architecture in a manner that competes with BEVs.

Inefficiency at Every Stage

The multi-stage process of hydrogen production, compression, transportation, and reconversion to electricity in fuel cells results in compounding energy losses. Even in the most optimistic projections, hydrogen trucks consume two to three times more energy than their battery-electric counterparts for equivalent distances. This inefficiency renders hydrogen structurally expensive, even as renewable energy becomes more abundant. Direct electrification via BEVs, on the other hand, offers a far more efficient and streamlined pathway to decarbonizing freight transport.

Distribution Challenges and Infrastructure Costs

The logistical difficulties of hydrogen distribution further diminish its appeal. The low energy density of hydrogen complicates long-distance transport, and hydrogen pipelines are both rare and costly. Additionally, the unique properties of hydrogen—such as its tendency to embrittle metals—make repurposing natural gas pipelines unfeasible. Hydrogen refueling stations are significantly more expensive than electric vehicle charging stations, and deploying a hydrogen infrastructure at scale would require immense subsidies and extensive development.

Conclusion: Battery-Electric Trucks as the Dominant Solution

Hydrogen, while conceptually promising, faces substantial technical and economic hurdles that limit its practicality in the transportation sector. Its inefficiencies in production, distribution, and utilization, coupled with the logistical challenges of infrastructure development, render hydrogen trucks an impractical alternative to BEVs. Battery-electric trucks, with their inherent energy efficiency, simpler infrastructure requirements, and continuously improving technology, represent the most viable and scalable solution for the future of freight transport.

Let’s break down the figures you provided for a clear comparison:Hydrogen Truck:

? Assuming a fuel cell efficiency of 60% and a consumption of 6 to 7 kg of hydrogen per 100 km.

? At today’s price of 15 euros per kg of hydrogen in Germany, this results in:

? 6 kg of hydrogen x 15 euros = 90 euros per 100 km (lower estimate).

? 7 kg of hydrogen x 15 euros = 105 euros per 100 km (upper estimate).Diesel Truck:

? A diesel truck costs around 55 euros per 100 km based on current fuel prices.Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV):

? BEVs cost 34 euros per 100 km, assuming an electricity rate of 0.29 euros per kWh.Comparison:

? Hydrogen truck: 90-105 euros per 100 km.

? Diesel truck: 55 euros per 100 km.

? Battery-electric truck: 34 euros per 100 km.

eTrailers are the better solution!

Conclusion: eTrailers Are the Better Solution!

When considering the future of heavy-duty transport, eTrailers offer a far more practical and effective solution than hydrogen or other alternatives. By integrating battery packs directly into the trailer, eTrailers help overcome many of the limitations faced by hydrogen trucks, particularly in long-haul transport. Here's why they stand out:

1. Increased Range Without Sacrificing Cargo Capacity: One of the most significant challenges with battery-electric trucks is balancing the vehicle’s weight with its cargo capacity. Traditional trucks have to carry large battery packs, which reduces the amount of cargo they can transport. eTrailers solve this by distributing the battery load across the trailer, enabling electric trucks to extend their range without compromising payload. This innovative design allows for longer trips without adding excessive weight or volume constraints to the tractor.

2. Cost-Effective and Energy Efficient: Unlike hydrogen trucks, which are plagued by inefficiencies in fuel production, distribution, and use, eTrailers run on electricity directly stored in batteries. This makes them far more energy-efficient, avoiding the wasteful energy conversions required for hydrogen. Additionally, charging infrastructure for batteries is already more widespread and much cheaper to deploy compared to hydrogen refueling stations. In terms of operating costs, eTrailers are also more competitive, as they require less energy per kilometer driven compared to hydrogen-powered alternatives.

3. Scalability and Flexibility: eTrailers are not only a better choice for current logistics networks but also more scalable. Fleets can adapt eTrailers to a wide variety of existing electric tractors or even retrofit older diesel vehicles to work with hybrid systems. This flexibility allows for smoother integration into current freight operations without the need for massive overhauls in infrastructure, unlike hydrogen, which would require entirely new pipelines, storage systems, and refueling stations.

4. Fewer Maintenance Issues: Battery-electric systems, like those used in eTrailers, are inherently simpler than the complex fuel cell systems required for hydrogen trucks. They have fewer moving parts, reducing maintenance needs and increasing overall reliability. This translates into reduced downtime and lower long-term operational costs for fleet operators.

5. Decentralized Charging Infrastructure: One of the standout benefits of eTrailers is their compatibility with existing electric grid infrastructure. Unlike hydrogen, which requires costly new pipelines and refueling stations, eTrailers can be charged at any site equipped with high-power electric chargers. As electric grids continue to incorporate more renewable energy, eTrailers offer a pathway to a fully sustainable logistics system, leveraging clean electricity for freight transport.

6. Immediate and Practical Application: The technology behind eTrailers is available and viable today. Instead of waiting for breakthroughs in hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cell development, we can start decarbonizing freight right now with eTrailers. Their adoption doesn’t depend on speculative advances in technology or infrastructure, making them a far more realistic short- and medium-term solution.

In conclusion, while hydrogen trucks continue to capture attention, their inefficiencies and infrastructure challenges make them far less practical than eTrailers. With the ability to increase range, lower costs, and operate within existing charging networks, eTrailers provide a smart, scalable solution for decarbonizing heavy-duty transport. The future of freight is electric, and eTrailers are leading the way.

Invitation to IAA 2024

We invite all our customers and readers to join us at IAA 2024 to experience the future of freight firsthand! Come visit us in Hall 27, Booth C28, where we’ll showcase our latest eTrailer innovations and discuss how they can transform your logistics operations. We look forward to seeing you there and exploring the road ahead together!

TRAILER DYNAMICS