Port of Los Angeles to test manure-derived hydrogen as fuel for trucks, cranes.
A Toyota Motor group member will start a four-year test at one of the largest U.S. ports using cargo equipment powered by hydrogen derived from animal waste.
The pilot program will take place at the Port of Los Angeles from February though March 2026, Japanese commodity and equipment distributor Toyota Tsusho said.
It will involve seven pieces of machinery powered by fuel cells, including a crane, machines that offload containers, and trucks.
Port of Los Angeles to Test Manure-Derived Hydrogen as Fuel for Trucks, Cranes
The hydrogen will come from renewable natural gas, or biomethane. Derived from manure produced at farms and improved to fuel-grade, this gas contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The Port of Los Angeles aims to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions from equipment use by 2035.
Electrifying the equipment presents a solution, but given the time it takes to recharge batteries, fast-fueling hydrogen is seen as an alternative.
The pilot program will check the durability of the equipment and the efficiency of hydrogen fueling. Other Japanese companies will take part in the testing. Mitsui E&S Machinery will provide maintenance support while Hino Motors will supply the trucks.
Toyota Tsusho completed an economic feasibility study that began last year at the Port of Los Angeles. Over 1,000 pieces of equipment are in operation at the port.
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Port of LA to test manure-derived hydrogen as fuel for trucks, cranes, December 22, 2021
