Oakland – The first commercial hydrogen fuel station for large-sized trucks in the United States is operational at the Port of Oakland, a baby step towards what hydrogen supporters consider a new future future for long-haul trucking.
The small station, which now serves 30 hydrogen combustible cell trucks, could mark the start of a national network for supplying fuel cell trucks. He could also flop.
The challenges are immense. Hydrogen fuel is Dear – Up to four times more expensive than diesel fuel or fuel. Fuel batteries, which push electric motors to drive the truck, are also extremely expensive.
Makeing hydrogen itself is now a dirty process and greenhouse gas, although the production of green hydrogen is an emerging and even more expensive option. Hydrogen supporters are betting on the idea that the reduction in production will reduce prices
The new sales of diesel trucks will be forbidden In California by 2036. Only new trucks with zero-tailpipe emission will be authorized. Already, zero-emission requirements are in place for trucks that enter the ocean ports. And only two technologies are available to achieve this goal: electric battery trucks and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. “We believe that a good part of these will be hydrogen vehicles,” said Matt Miyasato, head of public policy for the fuel oil fuel distributor.
First, thanks to its real Zero brand supply stations, is the largest fuel distributor in Hydrogen vehicles in the United States, Miyasato took the floor on Tuesday during a ceremony to mark the opening of the station, assisted by state officials, including Liane Randolph, president of California Air Resources Board; And Tyson Eckerle, Clean Transport Advisor for the Bureau of Business Development of Governor Gavin Newsom, Go-Biz. The primary funding of Oakland station is provided by the state of the Canaled state through the Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission.
A hydrogen pump at the real hydrogen firstyle supply station at the port of Oakland.
(Russ Mitchell / Los Angeles Times)
Hydrogen fuel is very promising for cleaner air. It is not a fossil fuel. A fuel cell is a kind of battery that takes hydrogen and only emits water vapor.
However, hydrogen production itself can be very dirty. Most hydrogen produced today require methane, which is a fossil fuel and a strong contributor to greenhouse gases. The industry works on production alternatives, including carbon capture and storage from methane combustion, or completely leave methane to make green hydrogen, using electrolyzer to divide hydrogen and oxygen from water. The two alternatives are prohibitive without government subsidies.
The federal government distributes $ 8 billion to relaunch what it calls “hydrogen economy” by creating hundreds of hydrogen. One of them will take place in California, which is should take $ 1.2 billion For the project.
Eckerle said that HUB funding will allow the construction of 60 additional hydrogen truck stations in California, enough to serve 5,000 trucks and 1,000 buses.
The vehicles themselves are also expensive. Battery and hydrogen battery battery battery trucks can cost $ 120,000 three times more or more. Those who buy trucks can be eligible for state and federal subsidies to compensate for most of the initial costs.
Battery Electric takes up a strong foot on the medium-sized delivery truck market, but hydrogen could have one step ahead for long-haul trucking. Although a fuel cell is comparable in size to a diesel engine, a battery large enough for long-haul trucks adds weight and size and reduces the total freight load that the truck can offer. And while an electric battery truck can take hours to recharge, the recharge time for hydrogen is more comparable to the filling of diesel fuel.
