Is This The Way We’ll Drive Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles?
In Hydrogen Business Model / Net Zero Hydrogen Fund: Shortlisted Projects Allocation Round 2022, I listed all the hydrogen electrolyser projects on the shortlist for Government funding, if they pass the due diligence.
One project is from two companies H2 Energy and Trafigura, who are building a business model in West Wales, where you lease a hydrogen-powered truck for the same price as a diesel truck. You only pay for the miles you drive.
Their business model is explained in this must-watch Youtube video.
Consider.
- Hydrogen-powered vehicles have a long range.
- Fuelling time would be short compared to charging an electric truck.
- Are hydrogen-powered vehicles easy and low-cost to service?
- Cost of driver would be the same for operators.
- Would it be easier to recruit drivers for a hydrogen fuel-cell truck?
- Would cleaning costs be less for a hydrogen fuel-cell truck?
- Do the trucks come with sophisticated route planning software to cut mileage?
But as the video states, the upfront cost of the vehicle is higher.
I suspect the companies have driven the prices down, so that everybody gets an acceptable deal.
I wish the two companies all the best in their venture.
As I used to be half-owner of a vehicle leasing company, I feel that if the two companies can make a success of this hydrogen-powered truck leasing business, then I feel the model could be applied to the leasing of hydrogen-powered cars and other vehicles.
It could be a new way to buy your car.
The Anonymous Widower 
How many hydrogen powered truck journeys will it take to fuel a fleet of hydrogen powered trucks for their normal duties? Or is a hydrogen truck really only viable at scale if there is hydrogen generation (ideally from green electricity) at the depot (closed fleet model).
I fear that the trucking needed to fuel a fleet doing significant mileage will cause the model to collapse in on itself (coal powered steam haulage–rail and road, also had a “fuel tonnage/cube to achieved haulage tonnage miles” dis-benefit to ICE).
I feel the answer, first and foremost, is a return to using rail (in the Swiss model) and working towards that, and secondly more localised and regionalised manufacturing and agriculture (hydroponics powered by localised green electricity). But that doesn’t benefit the current industrial complex.
Comment by MilesT | August 20, 2023 |