HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TRUCKS
TURN A CORNER
Technological developments involving hydrogen fuel cell trucks are gathering speed – but can they be rolled out at scale ?
WRITTEN BY : DOMINIC ELLIS
Heavy duty vehicles are coming under increased scrutiny as they have a higher impact on emissions and air pollution in cities than any other vehicle . Countries ' commitments to climate change and reducing carbon emissions – in the global spotlight with the hosting of UN COP26 – have driven the automotive industry to focus on alternative powertrain solutions , such as fuel cell electric powertrains and batteryelectric , to achieve zero-emission targets .
But it remains to be seen if they can be rolled out at scale – amid ever-shortening windows to meet net zero targets .
There are four true zero-emissions technologies to power vehicles : battery electric vehicles ( BEVs ), hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles ( FCEVs ), hydrogen internal combustion engines ( H2-ICEs ), and biofuel or synfuel internal combustion engines ( if a sustainable source of carbon is used ).
Hybrid and gas engines represent bridging technologies to reduce emissions in the medium term but cannot achieve zero emissions on their own .
Frost & Sullivan ' s recent analysis , Global Fuel Cell Trucks Growth Opportunities , forecasts the global fuel cell trucks market
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