Hydrogen is making significant strides in the transportation sector, particularly in long-haul trucking, aviation, and maritime industries, where electrification alone faces hurdles. With its capacity for rapid refueling and longer ranges, hydrogen-powered transportation offers distinct advantages over battery-based solutions. Read on for an exploration of hydrogen’s potential in transforming mobility, examining its role in heavy-duty transport, aviation, and shipping, and the infrastructure challenges that must be overcome.

Why Hydrogen Might Be Better for Large Vehicles and Long Distances

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have garnered much attention for their potential to reduce emissions, but when it comes to heavy-duty vehicles and long-distance transportation, they face significant limitations. These include long charging times, limited range, and the weight of batteries needed to power larger vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), on the other hand, offer a promising alternative due to their quick refueling times and higher energy density.

For heavy-duty vehicles like trucks, buses, and long-distance passenger vehicles, hydrogen enables longer driving ranges and shorter downtime for refueling compared to BEVs. Hydrogen’s energy-to-weight ratio also makes it ideal for applications where payload capacity is critical, such as freight transport.

In long-haul trucking, for example, hydrogen FCEVs provide a viable solution for decarbonizing one of the most challenging sectors of transportation. With major automakers and energy companies investing heavily in hydrogen technologies, FCEVs are poised to become the go-to option for long-distance logistics.

The Future of Hydrogen-Powered Aviation and Maritime Sectors

The aviation and maritime sectors are also looking to hydrogen (and its derivatives) as a sustainable fuel source. In aviation, hydrogen’s high energy density offers potential for powering short- to medium-haul flights with zero carbon emissions. Several companies are currently developing hydrogen-powered aircraft, and while commercial deployment is still years away, the promise of hydrogen in aviation is undeniable. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are a subset of drop-in ready fuels that can be used today in existing aircrafts with conventional fossil jet fuel, and are being explored as decarbonization solutions.

SAFs may be produced through a number of technologies, such as from fats and oils (HEFA), from ethanol (alcohol-to-jet), from waste/garbage (biomass gasification), and from hydrogen and CO2 (electro fuels or “e-fuels”). These pathways typically rely on the availability of hydrogen for their production. The SAF sector has seen rapid development in recent times; in January 2024, LanzaJet opened the world’s first ethanol to SAF facility in Georgia, USA, which would produce 10 million gallons of SAF per year. Elsewhere, other SAF unicorns, Infinium and Twelve, which both utilize the e-fuel technology, have recently received over 700 million dollars combined, for eSAF production. Twelve’s plant, located in Moses Lake, Washington, will make about 50,000 gallons annually when it starts operating in 2025.

Similarly, the maritime sector is exploring hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels like ammonia and methanol for shipping. As the global shipping industry grapples with the need to reduce its carbon footprint, hydrogen presents a cleaner alternative to traditional marine fuels. With nearly 400 vessels already capable of running on methanol, hydrogen-powered ships could soon become a regular sight on international waters.

Overcoming Obstacles in Infrastructure and Fuel Supply

While hydrogen holds great promise for decarbonizing transport, significant challenges remain in building the necessary infrastructure. Hydrogen production, storage, and distribution require substantial investments. Moreover, hydrogen’s low energy density and volatility pose storage challenges that need advanced solutions.

For hydrogen-powered transportation to become mainstream, governments and private sectors must work together to expand refueling infrastructure. Hydrogen refueling stations are still sparse compared to traditional fuel and electric charging stations. Investments in hydrogen production facilities, such as electrolyzers, are also necessary to scale up supply.

Conclusion

Hydrogen’s potential in the transportation sector is vast, offering a clean, efficient alternative for long-haul trucking, aviation, and shipping. While the path forward requires overcoming infrastructure and supply challenges, the future of hydrogen-powered mobility is bright, with major advances on the horizon in fuel cell technology and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Hydrogen could indeed power the next generation of sustainable transportation.