Transport for NSW, Australian Road Research Board and Mov3ment have joined forces to launch a research project designed to provide a roadmap for hydrogen fuel technology adoption in the state’s heavy vehicle fleet
The Hydrogen Powered Heavy Vehicle and Infrastructure Assessment project will investigate the potential market size for hydrogen fuel for heavy vehicles and likely first movers.
In its report on the project, Transport for NSW says the research will “identify the key segments of the heavy vehicle fleet that are likely to transition to hydrogen fuel technology and provide a roadmap for the NSW government to explore the opportunities this presents”
“Internationally, hydrogen is gaining market share with many countries heavily investing in the transition to cleaner fuels,” Transport NSW says.
The project will draw on the learnings of international trials to develop a pathway for the potential adoption of hydrogen fuel use in heavy vehicles operating in the NSW freight sector.
The pathway will be designed to fit within the broader NSW Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy.
“Many key stakeholders in the hydrogen industry are already located in NSW, including manufacturers of hydrogen fuel cell trucks, and several mainstream transport operators,” Transport for NSW says.
“In addition to these, councils such as Fairfield, Wollongong, and Cessnock city councils have all set aims to establish hydrogen plants in their respective areas.”
In terms of process, the project will collate and analyse data reflecting the state-of-the-industry elsewhere in the world and investigate new and emerging technologies in the sector.
It will also work to differentiate the types of vehicles and their uses most likely to convert to hydrogen.
The cost of transition, availability of vehicles, infrastructure constraints, policy levers and regulations will also be investigated in terms of understanding the potential barriers to market adoption of the technology.
For those in the industry looking to move into the space, the project will be suggesting ways the NSW Government may be able to assist early adopters to bring hydrogen fuel cell vehicles into the network.
The research is being delivered in partnership with the Australasian Cooperative Research Centre (iMove CRC) which is consortium of 44 industry, government and research partners.
The iMove website says the group is “engaged in a 10-year effort to improve Australia’s transport systems through collaborative R&D projects”.
To follow the research click here.