August 1, 2019 – SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The transportation sector accounts for 41 percent of California’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions[1] and the most promising technology to eliminate these emissions is hydrogen fuel cells, according the California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC) 2019 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell for Freight Workshop Report. Industry experts identified fuel cell electric vehicles as ideal to cover the constant operational cycles of the medium, heavy duty and off-road sectors due to their durability, long range and fast refueling. The full report is available at: https://www.californiahydrogen.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-Freight-Workshop-Report_Final.pdf
“Hydrogen fuel cells are a unique enabler of zero-emission transport because they can provide the same performance as diesel engines with minimal changes in operational protocols. This reports highlights the many exciting developments in the freight sector presented at the freight workshop,” said Gus Block, Nuvera Fuel Cells Director of Marketing and Corporate Development and CHBC Heavy Duty, Goods Movement, and Clean Ports Sector Action Group Chair.
Toyota, Kenworth, Hyundai and Nikola presented the progress that each OEM has made to develop Class 8 fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs). Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI), a truck fleet operator, is testing 10 pilot trucks in the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB). TTSI stated that the truck operators think the pilot FCETs provide a better experience due to reduced noise, vibration and no diesel fumes.
“Eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants in the freight sector will gain increasing focus from industry and government stakeholders as operating experience with zero emission hydrogen fuel cells vehicles grows,” said Jeff Serfass, CHBC Executive Director. “We must work together to develop a comprehensive action plan to accelerate development of commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell equipment to progressively eliminate emissions as soon as possible.”
Disadvantaged communities in close proximity to port operations and transportation corridors take the brunt of criteria pollutants, leading to disproportionate negative health impacts to citizens. Educating policymakers and the environmental justice community on the emergence of fuel cell electric vehicles for freight applications is critical to addressing climate change and improving local air quality. The CHBC and the Coalition for a Safe Environment are working together to bring hydrogen fuel cells to the forefront of the AB 617 Community Steering Committee conversations in the South Coast Air Basin.
The CHBC and ACT News will conduct a webinar on Tuesday, August 14 at 1:00 PM PT to present the finding of the 2019 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Freight Workshop Report. Those interested in attending the webinar can register here: https://www.act-news.com/webinar/why-hydrogen-and-fuel-cells-make-sense-for-commercial-transportation/
Contact: Peter Thompson
pthompson@californiahydrogen.org