1664396 - Class 8 Fuel Cell Trucks: Fleet Adoption & Infrastructure Deployment in California

The vast majority of Class 8 tractor trucks are diesel powered, which emits greenhouse gas emissions, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides.  These emissions contribute to climate change and have negative impacts on human health. To mitigate truck-related pollution, the State of California aims to reduce air pollution. A key part of this strategy is to use a variety of policy levers, like the Advanced Clean Truck and the Advanced Clean Fleet Regulations, to incentivize the use of zero emission trucks to lower air pollution.  Industry has responded to this regulatory landscape by developing and deploying trucks that use zero emission technologies like batteries or fuel cells to power the drivetrain.

Truck manufacturers have responded by developing battery electric and fuel cell Class 8 trucks. These trucks are mainly designed for use in drayage and regional delivery applications. These trucks are in the early stages of commercialization and the market for zero emission trucks is still nascent.  As these trucks reach later stages of commercialization, they will be deployed at-scale by fleets in California and in more challenging duty cycles.

To support the commercialization of these trucks, research was conducted to understand fleet preferences for zero emission technology and to estimate the size of the market for Class 8 fuel cell tractor trucks. Analysis was also conducted to develop a commercialization plan for Class 8 fuel cell tractors. This plan outlines the stages of commercialization for this technology and the actions that will need to be taken to facilitate commercialization.

Research was also conducted on hydrogen infrastructure and options for providing fuel to the fuel cell trucks.  This study estimates hydrogen demand in California and investigates the feasibility of deploying a retail hydrogen fueling network. This study also investigated the opportunities and barriers that hydrogen fuel providers face, as well as opportunities for producing hydrogen at scale.  Further analysis was also conducted on incentives and policies that can facilitate further hydrogen infrastructure deployment.

This presentation will share and disseminate the results of these studies to industry, with the objective of promoting further discussion about the state of the fuel cell drayage truck and heavy-duty hydrogen infrastructure sector. This session will also discuss upcoming technological developments in the fuel cell truck sector.