Hydrogen Fuel Cell Kian Popular As An Electric Vehicle Alternative

Daimler Trucks is starting to focus on trucks powered by hydrogen. (photo: Twitter @DaimlerTruck)

JAKARTA - More and more ground transportation fleet operators in the US are interested in using hydrogen fuel cells for trucks and vans as a practical alternative to electric vehicles. Especially after being given subsidies by the government, especially in the United States through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Although most world combustion engine cars and short-range trucks should be replaced with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the next two decades, hydrogen fuel cell proponents and some long-haul fleet operators say electric batteries are too heavy, taking too long to charge, and can overload the power grid.

Vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells, where hydrogen mixes with oxygen to produce water and energy to power the battery, can be recharged within minutes and have longer range than the BEV.

"In fact, we need both BEV and hydrogen," Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck, told Reuters. "The amount of energy BEV requires is so large that I see there is a load on our power grid that in the end cannot be met."

According to Daum, Daimler Truck will invest up to 15 billion euros (Rp243.3 trillion) in hydrogen fuel cells over the next decade.

The British supermarket chain, Asda, with 1,000 large diesel vehicles carrying goods around the clock between distribution centers and shops, will be forced to add its fleet if it switches to BEV, and therefore paying attention to hydrogen fuel cells.

"I didn't close the door to the battery, but the advantage of hydrogen is that it doesn't take long charging times and has a better reach," said Asda fleet manager Sean Clifton.

Like BEV, the main challenge of hydrogen is infrastructure, which is too few to support the current fleet. But more governments offer subsidies, including to produce more hydrogen from renewable power or launch charging stations.

For example, Asda is part of a consortium including British fuel cell startup HVS which has received a British government grant to develop heavy vehicles for autonomous hydrogen fuel cells.

In the United States, IRA provides subsidies for cheap hydrogen and charging infrastructure that, according to industry executives, will accelerate the development of semi-trucks and hydrogen-fueled pickups. The European Union is also negotiating on renewable energy targets, including hydrogen.

Industrys in the United States that produce semi-trucks and pick-ups have received subsidies from IRA (Institute for Renewable Energy) to develop cheaper hydrogen fuels and build hydrogen charging infrastructure.

The CEO of French fuel cell maker, Symbio, Philippe pathr said that this would accelerate the development of hydrogen truck cars in the United States. Symbio itself will soon launch a hydrogen truck by 2026. The company also hopes to have a 10% market share in worldwide sales of fuel cell cars by 2030.

Meanwhile, the European Union is negotiating to set new energy targets, including the use of hydrogen. Several automakers such as Toyota and General Motors (GM) have tested the use of hydrogen fuel cells on heavy vehicles such as semi-trucks and trains. Toyota has even received funding from the British government to develop a hydrogen version of its Hilux pick-up car.

However, some companies are still worried about the use of hydrogen fuel. Vittore Fulvi, the owner of a truck company in Italy, is concerned about the reduced load capacity and daily recharging of battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs).

Meanwhile, Ford also needs alternative plans for large customers to operate a diesel van with a distance of 600 miles (966 km) a day, and requires additional energy to keep the itemswared.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen truck unit Traton is currently not investing in hydrogen development, but the company will rely on the use of the technology from other parties if needed. However, Volkswagen already has hundreds of patents related to hydrogen fuel cell technology. Only Tesla car companies refuse the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology.