Hydrogen Truck Demonstrations Will De-Risk Early Market Technology Adoption ​ ​
Hydrogen as a truck fuel is a new commercial choice and truck manufacturers are in a race to market. The hydrogen truck market initiated in 2019 (compared with the diesel truck which initiated in 1908) and the first commercial trucks are just beginning to be delivered now, in 2024, all in California. It is critical to understand if hydrogen fueled trucks can meet commercial truck fleet performance and operational demands, both practically and economically. ​
​Hydrogen fueling logistics are as important as truck performance and need to be understood. Hydrogen is dispensed into the truck as either a high-pressure gas or a cryogenic liquid; both are significantly more challenging to handle than diesel. Early hydrogen vehicle markets have exposed that fueling infrastructure technologies lag vehicle technology; therefore, smaller scale truck deployments can identify the true cost of doing business in a low-risk manner and subsequently inform challenges, solutions and investment necessary for commercial scale. ​
​Hydrogen truck demonstration projects are active in other markets but have yet to be launched in Texas. Hydrogen powered truck demonstration projects will be supported by power train and truck OEMs, who have active R&D focused on hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen combustion engine, hybridization (diesel-electric) and novel power generation technologies. As important as demonstrating hydrogen power trains, is demonstrating that the fuel supply chain is also up to task. In this section we will go over the components of these demonstration projects and provide case studies as reference. ​