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https://thedriven.io/2025/04/04/economists-call-for-focus-on-battery-trucks-say-hydrogen-freight-makes-little-sense/>
"Economists from France and Germany have called on their respective governments
to accelerate the decarbonisation of freight transport by prioritising battery
electric trucks over hydrogen-fuelled alternatives.
In a joint statement published late last month, economists from the European
Union’s two largest economies described the decarbonisation of road freight
transport as “essential” for achieving the EU’s climate targets.
Specifically, according to the economists, transport emissions are projected to
continue increasing without “decisive” action due in large part to road
freight’s heavy reliance on diesel-powered trucks.
“As the EU’s largest economies, France and Germany have a special
responsibility to lead the way in freight transport decarbonisation,” they
wrote.
But they said policies focused on the decarbonisation of the freight transport
sector should focus on battery electric trucks “as these represent the most
mature and market-ready technology for road freight transport.” It should
include an accelerated roll-out of fast-charging networks along major freight
corridors and in private depots.
The economists don’t dismiss the potential of hydrogen fuel-cell electric
trucks as “another option for electrifying road transport.”
However, they highlight a number of barriers for hydrogen-based technology to
transform the freight transport sector, including increased storage capacity;
hydrogen refuelling stations for freight, and not just passenger vehicles; and
the form hydrogen will take, whether that be gaseous or liquid.
More damningly for hydrogen advocates, battery electric trucks are simply more
efficient. According to the economists, an electric truck on the road today
consumes 50 per cent less energy than a hydrogen truck to cover the same
distance “due to the energy losses involved in producing, transporting, and
converting hydrogen”.
The economists advocate for parallel innovation of alternative technologies
alongside battery electric trucks so as to “ensure the complementary options
remain available if needed.”
However, put plainly, the economists believe that the publicly funded
development of an infrastructure for these alternatives “makes little sense” at
the present time due to the existing uncertainties."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
