Electric trucks clearly advantageous over hydrogen in road freight transport – report

Battery-electric trucks are the best option to reduce emissions from road freight transport, and market forces are working in their favour, according to a report[1] by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW[2]) in collaboration with the Technical University of Dresden and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg. While battery-electric trucks are slowly gaining market share, and a growing range of models come onto the market, hydrogen fuel cell models on German roads were "almost non-existent," said[3] the researchers. Freight transport is responsible for six per cent of Germany's total greenhouse gas[4] emissions, and 40 percent of transport-related emissions - yet trucks lag behind cars in the transition to electric mobility[5].

2.3 percent of German trucks are battery-powered if heavy trailer trucks are excluded, compared to a hydrogen market share of 0.006 percent, according to DIW[6].  The DIW[7] report noted that private investment in truck charging infrastructure was growing. Researchers recommended that the government maintains support for fast-charging points for trucks[8], but advised against promoting hydrogen in the sector, which would require investment in completely different technology and infrastructure. "Clear communication from federal policymakers on battery-powered trucks as the key technology would give truck manufacturers and operators security on upcoming investments," DIW energy expert Wolf-Peter Schill[9] said.

The researchers also called for changes to greenhouse gas[10] reduction quota regulations, which they said do not reflect the stark difference in efficiency between battery-electric drives and hydrogen alternatives. Battery-electric trucks are much more efficient than those using hydrogen fuel cells, because converting electricity from renewables into hydrogen is highly energy-intensive.

A 2023 Oko-Institute report[11] forecast that, with enough investment in charging infrastructure, all new trucks registered in Germany could be battery-electric by 2035. Industry has said the country needs 4,000 fast-charging points by 2030[12]. However, environmental organisations have criticised the government[13] for investing more in road infrastructure than rail which, they argue, is the best option for reducing emissions and yet still accounts for only a small share of German freight transport.

References

1. ^ report (www.diw.de)
2. ^ DIW (www.cleanenergywire.org)
3. ^ said (www.diw.de)
4. ^ greenhouse gas (www.cleanenergywire.org)
5. ^ trucks lag behind cars in the transition to electric mobility (www.cleanenergywire.org)
6. ^ DIW (www.cleanenergywire.org)
7. ^ DIW (www.cleanenergywire.org)
8. ^ fast-charging points for trucks (www.cleanenergywire.org)
9. ^ Wolf-Peter Schill (www.cleanenergywire.org)
10. ^ greenhouse gas (www.cleanenergywire.org)
11. ^ 2023 Oko-Institute report (www.cleanenergywire.org)
12. ^ 4,000 fast-charging points by 2030 (www.cleanenergywire.org)
13. ^ criticised the government (www.cleanenergywire.org)