California's newly updated Freight Mobility Plan 2020 (CalTrans, 2020) reinforces what hydrogen fuel cell industry leaders have long known: fuel cell electric trucks are essential for achieving the state's zero-emission freight transportation goals while maintaining economic competitiveness.
The plan reveals the massive economic footprint of freight transportation, which contributed to the state's $3.12 trillion GDP in 2018. With 12 seaports, 12 major cargo airports, and extensive rail freight networks, California handles the highest value of international trade of any U.S. state.
Yet, heavy-duty diesel trucks generate nine percent of California's greenhouse gas emissions and 32 percent of nitrogen oxides, despite representing only two percent of the vehicles on California roads.
California faces higher trucking operational costs due to traffic congestion, particularly impacting port operations and driver productivity. Hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks offer operational performance equivalent to that of diesel trucks, while eliminating local emissions that impact disadvantaged communities near freight corridors. California's freight transportation future depends on zero-emission technologies that can handle intensive duty cycles while meeting strict environmental standards. For the heavy-duty trucking sector that powers California's economy, hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks offer the performance and sustainability required to achieve the state's clean goods movement vision.
