With widespread adoption and government backing, hydrogen fuel cells could be an economically viable alternative to bunker fuel in the maritime industry, especially after the IMO sulfur cap regulation kicks in by 2020.
“It’s an elegant, beautiful, simple solution for storing energy, so much better than batteries. You break down water; you put it back together.”
The systems are nowhere near ready but several panelists at the big CERAWeek meeting see advantages for hydrogen in heavy-duty transport.
New Zealand’s Ports of Auckland has been conditionally granted funds to buy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as part of a wider project to build a hydrogen fuel production plant. That second project, in turn, is part of a bigger project to transform New Zealand into an electricity-powered economy.
Hyundai is working on mass producing hydrogen fuel cell powered heavy-duty electric trucks, which would make an entry into the Swiss commercial market between 2019 and 2023.
Toyota has unveiled its second-generation hydrogen-electric truck, which builds upon the success of the first model that has been hauling live loads in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Plug Power in association with Workhorse Group has developed a hydrogen-powered delivery van that is one of the first of its kind to be deployed on a standard delivery route for the FedEx facility.
