WeTheMarket
7 days ago
$53M project brings hydrogen-powered Hyundai trucks to California
Brinley Hineman
Mon, May 6, 2024
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/53m-project-brings-hydrogen-powered-193654599.html
The Center for Transportation and the Environment launched a project in California to deploy Hyundai Motor Co.’s hydrogen-powered trucks to boost zero-emission freight transportation in the state.
The $53 million project, NorCal Zero, will bring 30 of Hyundai’s Xcient Fuel Cell electric trucks to the San Francisco Bay and Central Valley areas, CTE said in a news release. The Xcient is touted as the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen.
Officials celebrated the project’s launch at a dedication of a hydrogen fueling station in West Oakland last week.
“Hyundai is incredibly proud and thankful to be a part of the largest ever single deployment of heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks in North America. The community in Oakland leads the way in clean, sustainable freight transportation and serves as a blueprint for many more deployments in the U.S. to come,” Jim Park, a senior vice president at Hyundai Motor North America, said in the release.
CTE, a nonprofit headquartered in Atlanta that develops and implements zero-emission vehicles and supporting infrastructure, estimates that the project has the potential to avoid 24,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions — equivalent to the emissions produced by consuming nearly 2.4 million gallons of diesel.
The trucks can travel more than 450 miles on a single fill of hydrogen, the release said. They are currently in use in Switzerland, according to Hyundai.
Hyundai has been working to build a comprehensive hydrogen mobility ecosystem across North America, the company said in a news release.
The hydrogen fueling station is in a historically Black and Latino community impacted by the freeways and diesel trucks traveling to and from the Port of Oakland. The nonprofit touted it as the largest in the world, designed to support up to 200 trucks and back-to-back refueling.
“Port-adjacent communities like West Oakland suffer disproportionately from the impacts of diesel freight, so we’re excited to explore how alternatives like hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks can move us toward our zero emissions goals,” West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project co-Director Brian Beveridge said in the release. “We look forward to a day when our community can breathe easy without the fear of toxic freight emissions.”
Papé Group maintains the trucks at its San Leandro facility. The company upgraded its facility with hydrogen detection and ventilation equipment to service the trucks. The University of California Berkeley and the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project are collecting data on the project.
WeTheMarket
2 weeks ago
Message from David Wenger, Mission Hydrogen GmbH.
Happy Sunday everyone!
Germany has broken a new record in solar electricity generation this week. 51.2 GW, on Wednesday at 1pm.
Wow. I was taught at university that “PV is good, but it’s never going to happen. It’s too expensive, and it always will be.” That was 20-something years ago.
Things are changing rapidly.
Will hydrogen be a part of the energy transition? Maybe no. Probably yes.
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
And if you want to develop or sell products to the hydrogen industry, you need knowledge and real life experience.
So here’s what I have to offer for free:
1. Webinar with the Alberta Motor Transportation Association on their “Real Life Experience with Fuel Cell Trucks” in the Canadian winter: www.mission-hydrogen.com
2. Webinar with Draeger on the “Hydrogen Safety in FCEV Workshops” (you can use that knowledge for any kind of hydrogen workshop, repair center, bus yard or truck stop): www.mission-hydrogen.com
3. Hydrogen Online Workshop 2024: 24 hours, 50+ keynotes, panel discussions and expert sessions with some of the best hydrogen experts in the world: www.hydrogen-online-workshop.com/program (there’s a - unfortunately small – “Add to Calendar” icon next to every presentation that converts the time zones automatically)
4. Webinar on “Best of Hydrogen Online Workshop 2024” where I will share a summary of the 24 hours with you and answer all kinds of hydrogen related questions: www.mission-hydrogen.com
5. Webinar on “Hydrogen in the UK” with different speakers to give you an overview of the hydrogen activities mainly in England and Scotland. This webinar is not open for registration yet, but you can mark the 19th of June in your calendar.
6. Webinar with Parker on “Water Treatment for Electrolyzers”: www.mission-hydrogen.com
7. Webinar with Toyota on “The Toyota Hydrogen Strategy for Heavy Duty”: www.mission-hydrogen.com
I want you to take 3 minutes of your valuable time and sign up. It’s free, and there is no catch.
If you think that one of the events is valuable for one of your friends or colleagues, please forward this email. It just takes you 5 seconds, but it might change a lot.
Thank you for your time, and have a nice rest of your Sunday.
David
Mission Hydrogen GmbH
David Wenger
Einsteinstrasse 55
89077 Ulm
Germany
WeTheMarket
3 weeks ago
HYZON ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2024 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS
MAY 13, 2024
Link to Press Release https://investors.hyzonfuelcell.com/news/news-details/2024/HYZON-ANNOUNCES-FIRST-QUARTER-2024-FINANCIAL-AND-OPERATING-RESULTS/default.aspx
Link to Investor Presentation https://investors.hyzonfuelcell.com/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/Q1-2024-Earnings-Deck_FINALv2.pdf
Link to Webcast https://app.webinar.net/GDRdZBdzwj4
Link to Previous (Q4/FY 2023) Results https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=174090606
BOLINGBROOK, Ill., May 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyzon (NASDAQ: HYZN) (Hyzon or the Company), a U.S.-based manufacturer and global supplier of high-performance hydrogen fuel cell systems focused on providing zero-emission power to decarbonize the most demanding industries, today announced its first quarter 2024 financial and operating results:
Recent Highlights
- First quarter 2024 Revenue of $10.0 million as compared to no revenue in the prior-year period, demonstrating material progress in customer acceptance and completion of commercial cycle
- Announced Joint Development Agreement with New Way Trucks, North America's largest private refuse manufacturer, and unveiled first hydrogen-powered refuse truck for U.S. market at WasteExpo in May; trials with major refuse collection fleets expected to begin summer 2024
- Completed five 200kW C-sample Fuel Cell Systems (FCS) in Q1 and five additional 200kW FCSs in April, remaining on track for Start of Production (SOP) of 200kW FCS in second half of 2024
- Successfully completed four-month refuse truck trial with REMONDIS Australia, converting to full vehicle sale
- Launched 200kW fuel cell system integrated in Australian heavy-duty cabover truck, with first SOP of Class 8 200kW Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) expected in second half of 2024
- R&D, SG&A, and net cash burn, excluding the first SEC settlement payment and the proceeds from the sale of the Rochester facility, all came in at or below the low-end of Company guidance ranges for the first quarter of 2024
"I am pleased with our start to 2024, during which we have built upon the commercial and technology inflection points we achieved in 2023," said Hyzon Chief Executive Officer Parker Meeks. "We've successfully completed the commercial cycle for vehicles deployed last year, evident in our quarterly revenue progression. We continue to receive positive data and feedback from initial vehicle deployments. Last week, we unveiled the first U.S. fuel cell refuse vehicle with New Way, and we eagerly anticipate commencing trials for this vehicle and the 200kW Class 8 fuel cell truck this summer. We remain on schedule for the SOP of our single stack 200kW fuel cell system in the latter half of this year, and are enhancing manufacturing efficiencies and expanding our facility capabilities. I am highly encouraged by the progress we have made and the strength of the Hyzon platform as we progress through the balance of 2024."
First Quarter 2024 Business Highlights
Commercial Progress
Hyzon unveiled the first fuel cell electric refuse truck for the U.S. market with New Way Trucks, the largest private refuse equipment manufacturer in North America, at the WasteExpo in Las Vegas, Nev. earlier this month. After seeing the strong operational performance of the Company's Australian refuse truck over a four-month customer trial in the second half of 2023, Hyzon accelerated this vehicle development to bring the zero-emission platform to North America.
In Q1, Hyzon delivered one Class 8 fuel cell truck to a drayage customer at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the largest port drayage fleet in the U.S.
Hyzon continues to receive positive feedback from Performance Food Group (PFG) in California as they gain operational experience through the four FCEVs delivered to them in December 2023. Pending a successful 200kW vehicle trial planned for summer 2024, Hyzon expects to work with PFG on an expanded agreement for 15 200kW FCEVs, as well as a potential option for 30 more FCEVs.
In March, Hyzon launched its single stack 200kW fuel cell system and powertrain, integrated into a heavy-duty cabover vehicle, a familiar design for fleets in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. The Company expects to deploy 200kW cabover vehicles in Australia and New Zealand and 200kW conventional vehicles in the U.S. later this year.
Growing Government Support for Clean Energy Initiatives
The Inflation Reduction Act earmarks $2.6 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports Program. As initial examples, Hyzon is actively supporting two of the top ten ports in the country in their applications under the Clean Ports Program which have the ambition to deploy up to 100 trucks in a single application.
The Department of Energy also awarded $750 million funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to companies advancing clean hydrogen technologies, including a project on which Hyzon is a partner. Hyzon has also recently submitted a concept paper as the lead applicant under an additional $425 million BIL funding program, which if selected, may provide up to $14 million to help fund future expansions of the Bolingbrook fuel cell facility.
Single Stack 200kW Fuel Cell System C-Sample Development Update
Hyzon continues to progress its C-sample development to meet all technical requirements to reach SOP for its single stack 200kW fuel cell system in the second half of 2024. The Company completed five C-sample systems in the first quarter using production tooling and an additional five systems in April, while continuing to advance rigorous durability testing to remain on track for SOP.
Concurrently, the Company has been working to drive greater efficiency in its manufacturing operations as it prepares for SOP at its Bolingbrook fuel cell facility. In the first quarter, it increased its daily single cell production rate by over 2.5 times.
Hyzon expects its 200kW FCS annual production capacity to be 700 systems on three shifts with less than $3 million of capital expenditures remaining to achieve SOP and the targeted initial capacity. Capital-efficient capacity expansions are planned as demand continues to grow.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Updates
"We recognized first quarter revenue of $10.0 million compared to no revenue in the comparable prior-year period. Hyzon believes that this reflects a significant customer and financial milestone for the Company – an amount this quarter approximately equal to the total revenue recorded prior to this quarter and since the Company's inception," said Hyzon Chief Financial Officer Stephen Weiland. "While an important validator and reflection of customer acceptance, we do expect near-term fluctuations in revenue recognition given the timing of deployments and contract terms. We were also pleased that R&D, SG&A, and net cash burn excluding the first SEC settlement payment and the proceeds from the sale of our Rochester facility, all came in at or below the low-end of our guidance ranges for the quarter."
As of March 31, 2024, unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments were $82.6 million, representing a net cash burn of $29.6 million from the December 31, 2024 balance of $112.3 million. Net cash burn, excluding the $8.5 million first SEC settlement payment and approximately $2.9 million in proceeds received from the sale of the Company's Rochester facility, came to $24.0 million for the first quarter of 2024. Excluding these items, and consistent with Company guidance for the quarter, this represented the lowest quarterly net cash burn over the last ten quarters and the fifth consecutive quarter of declining net cash burn.
Conference Call Information
The Hyzon management team will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter financial results on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Participants can join the call at 1-888-800-7840 or international callers can use 1-646-307-1856 and enter the access code 5240234. To listen to the live audio webcast and Q&A, visit the Hyzon investor relations website at https://investors.hyzonfuelcell.com/.
About Hyzon
Hyzon is a global supplier of high-performance hydrogen fuel cell technology focused on providing zero-emission power to decarbonize demanding industries. With agile, high-power technology designed for heavy-duty applications, Hyzon is at the center of a new industrial revolution fueled by hydrogen, an abundant and clean energy source. Hyzon focuses on deploying its fuel cell technology in heavy-duty commercial vehicles across North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand today and in tomorrow's power generation and energy storage, mining, construction, rail, marine, and airport ecosystems. To learn more about how Hyzon partners across the hydrogen value chain to accelerate the clean energy transition, visit www.hyzonfuelcell.com.
WeTheMarket
1 month ago
Repost from PLUG board, courtesy of B_B!.
Amid Elon Musk's Visit To Beijing For FSD Push, China Is Eyeing 'Economical' Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles As Next Alternative For Green
Pooja Rajkumari April 29, 2024
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently wrapped up his visit to China, sparking speculation about the introduction of the full-self driving (FSD) system in the country. However, this visit comes at a time when China’s auto sector is focusing on hydrogen-powered vehicles with policymakers introducing various incentives and business applications to position China as a global leader in this clean energy source.
What Happened: Both central and local governments in China are rolling out a range of incentives to encourage the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles, South China Morning Post reported recently.
For example, Sichuan province is contemplating the removal of highway tolls for these vehicles and lifting restrictions on their access within the city. The province also plans to construct hydrogen refuelling stations and offer subsidies based on the standards of the charging stations.
Hydrogen, a carbon-neutral energy source, allows quick refuelling, making it an ideal choice for large commercial vehicles. Guotai Junan Securities analyst Pang Junwen pointed out that Sichuan’s initiative could make hydrogen-powered vehicles a cost-effective alternative to diesel-fuelled trucks.
Sinopec, China’s largest oil and gas producer, has constructed 11 hydrogen fuel supply centres and 128 hydrogen refuelling stations. Recognizing hydrogen energy as a new frontier for emerging technologies and industries, China, already a significant producer of electric vehicles and lithium batteries, is keen to explore this avenue further.
.....
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/04/38484139/amid-elon-musks-visit-to-beijing-for-fsd-push-china-is-eyeing-economical-hydrogen-powered-vehicles-a
WeTheMarket
1 month ago
Air Products announces plans to build network of commercial-scale multi-modal H2 refueling stations
24 Apr 2024
https://h2-tech.com/news/2024/04-2024/air-products-announces-plans-to-build-network-of-commercial-scale-multi-modal-h-sub-2-sub-refueling-stations/
Air Products announced it intends to build a network of permanent, commercial-scale multi-modal H2 refueling stations stretching from Edmonton to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
“With abundant resources, tremendous talent, and forward-thinking governments, Canada is driving the clean energy transition forward,” said Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products’ Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Last year, Air Products announced our continued investment in Western Canada with the first permanent, commercial-scale H2 refueling station in Alberta. Today, we build on that commitment with plans to build additional commercial-scale multi-modal H2 refueling stations, developing a H2 highway connecting Alberta’s two largest cities and enabling the continued development of the region’s H2 ecosystem.”
The permanent, multi-modal H2 refueling stations will be equipped to serve heavy-duty vehicles, such as commercial and municipal trucks and buses, as well light-duty H2 fuel cell cars. The stations will be along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway that runs through Calgary and Edmonton, providing a fueling experience and speed that is similar to gasoline or diesel. This H2 infrastructure will help Western Canada reach a goal of 5,000 H2 or dual fuel vehicles on the road in five years.
“Each of our state-of-the-art, high-capacity, high-reliability stations will be able to fuel up to 200 heavy-duty trucks or 2,000 cars per day,” noted Rachel Smith, vice president and general manager, Air Products Canada. “In Canada, H2 is essential to decarbonizing transportation where heavy-duty vehicles travel long distances in extreme temperatures. We are excited to be activating Canada’s first H2 corridor here in Alberta.”
The first of Air Products’ permanent H2 refueling stations, located in Edmonton, near the site of the Company’s landmark net-zero H2 energy complex that is under construction, is scheduled to be onstream in 2025. Currently, Air Products has placed a temporary, H2 mobile fueler on the site that is supplying customers. The permanent Edmonton H2 refueling station is supported in part by $1 million (CAD) in funding from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada, said, “The development and deployment of H2 presents an enormous economic and environmental opportunity for Canadians. The federal government is prepared to seize this opportunity, and today’s announcement by Air Products shows that Canadian companies and innovators are also continuing to lead the way on H2. I congratulate Air Products on today’s exciting announcement. Together, we will continue to establish Canada as a leading producer and supplier of H2 on our path to net-zero by 2050.”
Hon. Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, said, “H2 is a fuel of the future and our government is fully on-board with efforts to pursue early adoption of H2 technology. I’m thrilled that Air Products is working toward development of a H2 highway between Edmonton and Calgary. This will help grow Alberta’s H2 ecosystem and spur on additional interest, investment, and progress in the H2 space.”
Hon. Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, said, “This is exciting news and a great leap forward in growing the use of H2 as a transportation fuel in Alberta. By adding H2 fueling infrastructure along Alberta’s busiest transportation corridor, Air Products is helping to clear the way for H2-powered vehicles as a viable clean alternative to EVs. Alberta’s government knows H2 has the potential to be a major source of clean energy here at home and around the world, and today’s announcement is helping to turn that vision into reality.”
Jim Wood, Mayor of Red Deer County, said, “Red Deer County takes pride in supporting trucking and logistics; we are excited that future trucks driving along the QE2 will have easy access to a clean alternative energy fuel source.”
Malcolm Bruce, CEO of Edmonton Global, said, "Air Products' bold initiative to build a network of multi-modal H2 refueling stations between the Edmonton region and Calgary marks a significant leap forward in Canada's clean energy journey and the 5,000 H2 Vehicle Challenge. Announcements like these will help us in reaching our goal of having 5,000 H2 or dual-fuel vehicles on the road in Western Canada in five years. By connecting our two largest cities with this H2 highway, we're not just fostering innovation; we're catalyzing a sustainable future. This investment underscores our shared commitment to advancing green technologies and propelling Alberta to the forefront of the H2 revolution. Canada's path to net-zero truly runs through the Edmonton region."
In addition, Air Products has a H2 mobile fueler at the Edmonton International Airport to provide H2 for the airport’s fleet of Toyota Mirai H2 fuel cell vehicles as well as a mobile fueler located on Aurum Road ready to serve the broader Edmonton market.
As the world’s largest supplier of H2, Air Products has hands-on operating experience with over 250 H2 fueling station projects in 20 countries and the company’s technologies are used in over 1.5 million fueling operations annually.
WeTheMarket
1 month ago
Compressor drives for hydrogen filling stations: scalable, robust and compact
Manuela Kessler
22.04.2024
https://www.boschrexroth.com/de/de/unternehmen/presse/produktportfolio-wasserstoff-25088.html
Servo-hydraulic drives for hydrogen compressors and cryogenic pumps increase efficiency and shorten tank cycles
Together with partner companies from the hydrogen economy, Bosch Rexroth has developed a scalable portfolio of servo-hydraulic compressor drives in the power range between 10 and 280 kW. (Image source: Bosch Rexroth AG)
Within the next six years, several thousand hydrogen filling stations are to go into operation worldwide, thus making an important contribution to the decarbonization of the mobility sector. To this end, Bosch Rexroth has developed a scalable portfolio of servo-hydraulic compressor drives in the power range between 10 and 280 kW together with partner companies from the hydrogen economy. A new cryogenic pump, for example, compresses liquid hydrogen directly to 875 bar, enabling the direct refueling of heavy-duty commercial vehicles within a few minutes.
Long service life and start-stop operation, high efficiency with low hydrogen losses and low operating costs: OEMs and operators are looking for solutions that can be implemented quickly and economically for the cost-effective operation of hydrogen filling stations. Based on its decades of experience in electrohydraulics, Bosch Rexroth has developed tailor-made solutions for a cost-effective hydrogen infrastructure together with partner companies.
To achieve this, the company relies on servo-hydraulic drive technology with a continuously adjustable hydrostatic transmission. The robust hydraulics achieve a long service life. Long-stroke, ATEX-certified compressor drive cylinders increase conveying rates through end-position-optimized control. The portfolio covers the power range between 10 and 280 kW and various applications.
New cryogenic pump: 100 kg of hydrogen can be filled up in 10 minutes
Bosch Rexroth is developing the new electrohydraulically driven cryogenic pump in partnership with FirstElement Fuel, the market leader for the commercial operation of hydrogen filling stations in the United States. With a connected load of 280 kW, it compresses liquid hydrogen to 875 bar for the direct refuelling of heavy trucks. The aim is to refuel the vehicles with 100 kg of hydrogen within 10 minutes. Direct refuelling eliminates the need for intermediate storage at petrol stations. The first filling stations will be equipped from 2025.
Bosch Rexroth also offers variants developed in collaboration with partner companies for medium and lower outputs. The 75 kW CytroCore compressor drive can be used for the compression of both liquid and gaseous hydrogen. In the lower power range of 10 kW, a ready-to-connect self-sufficient axle, CytroForce, drives the compressor cylinders. No specific hydraulics know-how is required for either solution.
Standard modules in hardware and software can be finely scaled
For optimum energy efficiency, Bosch Rexroth relies on the so-called positive displacement control. In contrast to throttle control, which is used in most industrial hydraulic systems, position and force control is implemented by means of servo-hydraulic pump control. This control concept reduces energy consumption by approx. 75%. In addition, the compressor drives require less than one square meter of floor space and are much quieter than conventional drive systems. After the one-time parameterization, they are immediately ready for use. They communicate with the control system of the hydrogen filling station via open interfaces. All modules continuously record operating data and thus create the conditions for systematic condition monitoring and predictive maintenance for maximum availability with the digital service CytroConnect.
Bosch Rexroth can configure the standard drives in its portfolio in hardware and software to suit specific applications, thus meeting the requirements of users precisely. The compressor drives simplify the system architecture and operability of hydrogen filling stations and are suitable for both established companies in the hydrogen economy and newcomers.
WeTheMarket
1 month ago
This Startup With A Better Way To Fuel Hydrogen Trucks Snags Its First
Business News
10.2K subscribers
Posted Apr 18, 2024
Verne, a San Francisco startup that’s developing a cheaper, lighter tank and fueling system to help hydrogen semis match the driving range and hauling ability of dirty diesel big rigs, notched its first substantial funding from private investors to commercialize the technology. If it works as tested, heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles could become an attractive option for emission-free trucking. CEO Ted McKlveen, an alumnus of the Forbes 30 under 30 list, said the new round, the first the company has disclosed, boosts cumulative investment in it to $15.5 million.
He declined to say exactly how much backers including Trucks Venture Capital, Collaborative Fund, Amazon, United Airlines and Newlab put into the round, though Verne had previously raised less than $1 million, mainly in Energy Department grants, according to a PitchBook estimate. The company, named for famed French writer Jules Verne, believes its patented hydrogen tank and lower pressure fueling system – verified in testing with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – will allow trucks using it to go as far as diesel models, with no added weight, and fuel up just as fast.
The next step is testing it with “major” truckmakers McKlveen declined to identify.“The goal is to get diesel parity performance – that full 800-plus mile range on your vehicle like you can with diesel and you can carry a full payload like you can with diesel,” he told Forbes. “What unlocks that is a higher density form of storage. So instead of having six high-pressure tanks, you can just have two of our tanks mounted on the frame of the truck between the wheels, right where the diesel tanks go today.”
Its news comes as truckmakers including Volvo, Daimler, Hyundai, Freightliner and Nikola begin rolling out battery- and hydrogen-powered heavy-duty models to help reduce exhaust emissions and greenhouse gasses. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled new rules requiring cleaner heavy commercial trucks and buses starting in 2027 as part of broad U. S. efforts to curb carbon emissions. But electric trucks are costlier than diesel models and have some limitations relative to conventional ones. Battery-powered trucks, for example, have extremely heavy, large battery packs that make them thousands of pounds heavier and prevent them from hauling loads of up to 60,000 pounds over distances greater than 300 miles. Recharging them also takes much longer than refueling a diesel truck and requires fleet operators to invest in expensive charging stations and find enough power to operate them.
Hydrogen vehicles aren’t as heavy – typically only about 1,000 pounds more than a diesel truck – and can be fueled in about the same amount of time, though the cost of hydrogen is at least double that of diesel fuel. They can also go farther than battery trucks – Nikola touts a range of up to 500 miles with the hydrogen semi it’s selling in California – but not as far as long-haul diesel models.
WeTheMarket
2 months ago
Biden administration rolls out strongest pollution standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses
March 29, 2024
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/29/climate/biden-administration-rule-heavy-duty-trucks-buses/index.html
One week after rolling out the country’s strongest-ever federal tailpipe standards for the cars most Americans drive, the Biden administration is doing the same with the biggest, most polluting vehicles on the roads: buses, commercial vans and freight trucks.
The new rules for heavy-duty vehicles bear many similarities to their counterparts for smaller cars and trucks and will push the industry toward zero-emission technology. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the changes will cut 1 billion tons of planet-warming pollution by 2055.
“I’m so proud to announce that EPA is finalizing the strongest national greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles in history,” Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan told reporters.
The rule is technology-neutral, meaning vehicle manufacturers can meet the standards how they choose: advanced internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
However, the rule won’t necessarily mean there will be many more electric heavy-duty trucks on the roads in the coming years. By the early 2030s, EPA modeling predicts between 12-25% of the biggest freight trucks on the road will be zero-emissions vehicles. For smaller classes, like beverage or dump trucks, it could be closer to 40%.
Like its light-duty counterpart, the new standards will be phased in gradually, giving vehicle manufacturers flexibility and allowing more time for clean fuel infrastructure to get up and running. The standards will ramp up more stringently after 2030.
While the light-duty cars and trucks that most Americans drive are the biggest contributors to transportation pollution, medium and heavy-duty trucks play an outsized role: They represent about 5% of the overall vehicle fleet, but contribute about 20% of total transportation climate pollution, according to White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi.
Still, moving big trucks to cleaner fuels isn’t as easy as buying an EV. These vehicles – especially long-haul freight trucks – need to travel long distances and be able to carry heavy loads. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks are better for those reasons, but the technology is still relatively nascent compared to battery-electric models.
“We are making deep cuts to emissions from our nation’s transportation sector investing billions of dollars to replace older vehicles and engines with cleaner alternatives and creating thousands of good paying American jobs in the process,” Regan said.
Another issue is cost, as many cleaner vehicles are more expensive than diesel vehicles.
Biden administration strengthens Endangered Species Act protections weakened under Trump
The trucking industry has been split on the new rules. Some manufacturers like Ford and Cummins are supportive of the EPA’s timeline. But several industry groups, including one representing small business truckers, have voiced concerns about meeting the regulatory timeline.
“We are concerned that the final rule will end up being the most challenging, costly and potentially disruptive heavy-duty emissions rule in history,” said Jed Mandel, president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association. To be successful in the transition, “all parties need to be better aligned on the realistic timing for delivering the products and infrastructures critical to achieving the successful outcome we all want.”
White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi pointed to tax credits that can be used to defray the cost of buying clean commercial vehicles. The Biden administration has also made clean buses a major priority, replacing diesel school buses all over the country and awarding federal funding for some municipalities to replace their public buses, too.
Officials and environmental groups said the rule is major step forward for public health and environmental justice in communities near major trucking corridors.
“Today’s announcement is a big one in terms of cleaning up the pollution from these vehicles on our roads and highways and importantly, the pollution that impacts our communities and our kids,” Zaidi said.
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Jack_Bolander
22 hours ago
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