Researchers from American university MIT have presented a research paper that has quantified the impact of a zero-emission truck’s design range on its energy storage requirements and operational revenue.
The model outlined in the paper allows fleet owners and operators to better understand the design choices that impact the economic feasibility of battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks for commercial application.
When comparing traditional diesel, hydrogen powered and battery electric vehicles, the model has shown the high energy density and low cost of diesel keeps traditional vehicles as the kings of freight, however, gains to be made in the battery-electric and hydrogen industries could see diesel soon surpassed.
The heightened efficiency of battery electric vehicles is offset by its low freight capacity and inability to driver long routes, while hydrogen vehicles are hobbled by the lack of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure throughout the world’s highways.
“The whole issue [of decarbonising trucking] is like a very big, messy pie,” lead author of the study ZhiYi Liang says. “One of the things we can do, from an academic standpoint, is quantify some of some of those pieces of the pie with modelling, based on information and experience we’ve learned from industry stakeholders.
“Folks in the industry know that some kind of energy transition needs to happen, but they may not necessarily know for certain what the most viable path forward is.
“Although there is no singular avenue to zero emissions, the new model provides a way to further quantify and assess at least one slice of pie to aid decision-making.”
Liang also says the study has found free market pressures are potentially restricting the further development of renewable technology, specifically hydrogen-powered vehicles.
“Besides infrastructure limitations we only have prototypes [of hydrogen trucks] for fleet operator use, so the cost of procuring them is high,” Liang says.
“That means there isn’t demand for automakers to build manufacturing lines up to a scale that would make them economical to produce.”
With competing businesses across the globe now collaborating on the progression of sustainable trucking technologies, those gains may start to come sooner in the near future.
General Motors and Hyundai recently signed an MoU to explore collaboration on vehicles, supply chain and clean-energy technologies, while Daimler and Volvo have signed a partnership to improve software and operating system technologies applicable to a variety of vehicle manufacturers.
Liang says these types of collaboration are key to continuing this “energy revolution”.
“Everything his connected,” he says. “In order for the whole thing to make sense we need to consider ourselves part of the pie, and the entire system needs to change.
“You can’t make a revolution succeed by yourself.”
To read the MIT research paper led by Liang, click here.
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