A new report projects that hydrogen fuel cell trucks will become the preferred zero-emission commercial vehicle as companies and regulators aim to clean up the trucking industry.
Virginia research and consulting firm Information Trends predicted that more than 800,000 commercial trucks powered by hydrogen fuel would be sold by 2035, including light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks.
The report said that even though battery-electric trucks are currently competitive with hydrogen fuel cell trucks, industry is already increasingly turning to hydrogen fuel cell trucks due to their ability to travel longer distances, refuel rapidly, and — because of their lighter weight — carry heavy cargo.
Although battery ranges and charging times are improving for electric vehicles, the Information Trends report predicts that medium and small hydrogen fuel trucks will nonetheless overtake their electric counterparts in the late 2020s and early 2030s, respectively, as more hydrogen fueling stations are built and the price of hydrogen-powered vehicles continues to fall.
The trucking industry is a particular target of environmental regulators, the study noted, because it is the top contributor to carbon emissions on highways.
