Energy Observer – Hydrogen, the accelerator of decarbonised heavy mobility.
There is no doubt that hydrogen is one of the first realistic solutions for achieving carbon neutrality. Many countries are betting on ambitious development strategies in this energy vector. France, for its part, has committed to supporting the development of the green hydrogen sector* up to 7.2 billion euros by 2030. One of the priorities of this recovery plan concerns heavy mobility.
Heavy mobility, a heavyweight in greenhouse gas emissions
Whether it is rail, sea or air, heavy mobility remains one of the greatest challenges of the energy transition. Let’s take the example of heavy goods vehicles and freight transport. In France, although they represent less than 2% of the total vehicle fleet, they are responsible for more than 22% of CO2 emissions in the transport sector (Source: CITEPA, Secten 2020 format inventory).
Despite significant progress in terms of innovative technologies and compliance with environmental standards by manufacturers and transporters, heavy mobility remains a sector where emissions are steadily increasing, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has considerably boosted e-commerce and home deliveries.
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These services are becoming increasingly fast, causing many vehicles to hit the road without even reaching their optimal loading capacity. As the best energy is the one that is not unnecessarily consumed, it is important to think globally about the future of the transport ecosystems, from the distributor to the consumer, as technology only progresses!
Trucks that run on hydrogen
What are the main advantages of hydrogen for large vehicles?
The weight of the tanks and therefore the range, an insoluble weak point of vehicles with simple batteries, but also the speed of filling, a key point in any logistics solution. In concrete terms, the operating mode is similar to that of an electric vehicle, silent, clean and with a high torque, without the constraints of weight or recharging time.
The power needed to propel a 38-ton truck for hundreds of kilometers requires such a large energy reserve that the weight of the batteries becomes a considerable burden. This vicious circle – more energy requiring more batteries and therefore more weight requiring more energy – can only be broken today by hydrogen storage.
The batteries are then limited to short-term storage and energy recovery during braking, and therefore of reasonable weight. This is the architecture used on Energy Observer, which stores up to ten times more energy in its hydrogen tanks than in its Li-Ion batteries, for the same weight!
Hydrogen applications do not only concern propulsion, but also the power supply of the cold chain, which is fundamental in the transport of fresh products.
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Hydrogen, the accelerator of decarbonised heavy mobility, September 1, 2021
