Hydrogen Truck vs Electric Truck: Which is the Best Solution for the Future of your Fleet?
HDV transportation accounts for 6% of fossil CO2 emissions in the EU. In response, the EU Regulation on HDVs sets ambitious targets in terms of decreasing CO2 emissions per km from new HDVs:
- by 90% from 2040
- by 45% from 2030
- by 65% from 2035
Faced with the strengthening emission standards HDVs need to switch to alternatives of the diesel internal combustion engines (ICE). The only available solutions which are able to offer zero emission to heavy mobility are electric trucks, already on the market, and fuel cell hydrogen trucks, whose technology is upcoming. But which is best suited to tomorrow's fleets?
I. Technology overview
Hydrogen fuel cell trucks and electric trucks are both electric vehicles, using the same type of driveline to transform energy into motion. Both are zero-emission technologies. The major difference lies in the way energy is stored and supplied.
Fuel cell trucks generate their electricity in real time using a hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen, stored in a tank, reacts with oxygen to produce electricity on demand, releasing only water and heat. The vehicle is refueled at hydrogen service stations.
Read more : Hydrogen fuel cell for truck: How does it work?
Electric trucks, on the other hand, store their energy in lithium-ion batteries that have to be recharged at recharging stations.
II. Comparing performance and practicality
1. Range
Fuel cell hydrogen trucks are distinctive for their great range. This can be up to 1,000 km on a full tank of hydrogen, making them particularly well-suited to long distances. In addition, this range remains constant whatever the ambient temperature conditions, as the fuel cell does not suffer the loss of performance as electric batteries in extreme cold.
In comparison, electric trucks offer a more limited range, varying from 200 to 500 km depending on the number of batteries, their capacity and the driving conditions.
2. Recharging and refueling times
Hydrogen trucks have a clear advantage here, with fast refueling times like those of diesel trucks (15 to 20 minutes).
In contrast, recharging the batteries of electric trucks can take several hours, even with fast charging stations. This factor can represent a major constraint for fleet managers, especially for operations requiring high vehicle availability.
3. Payload
A major challenge for electric trucks is the weight of the batteries, which can significantly reduce the truck's payload. For example, a high-capacity battery for a long-haul truck can weigh several tons.
Hydrogen trucks, with their lighter powertrain, offer better payload capacity, comparable to that of a diesel truck. This is a key advantage for transporting heavy goods.
4. Operational flexibility
Hydrogen trucks offer great flexibility for logistics operations, as they can be easily integrated into current fleet practices. Driving remains similar to that of traditional diesel trucks, and the hydrogen refueling process is quick , requiring no special training or major changes to routines.
On the other hand, electric trucks require adaptations of the journey organisation, notably to manage longer recharging times.
III. Economic implications
1. Acquisition and maintenance costs
Hydrogen trucks currently have a higher initial acquisition cost than electric trucks, due to the fact that the fuel cell technology is complex and relatively young. However, at the end the TCO would be balanced by the maintenance which should be more cost-effective over the long term, given that fuel cells have longer durability, corresponding to the vehicle life cycle.
Electric trucks, while more affordable to buy, can generate higher maintenance costs linked to battery wear and replacement, generally necessary after several years of use.
2. Infrastructure costs
The infrastructure required for hydrogen trucks remains a major challenge. Hydrogen refueling stations are expensive to build and still very few but the H2 energy sector is getting organized. Following the adoption of the EU regulation AFIR to have a H2 fuel station every 200 km on the main European corridors and main urban nodes many projects have started or been announced. The infrastructure is expected to grow considerably by 2030 when the launch of the serial production of FCEv trucks is announced by the truck manufacturers.
By contrast, the network of charging stations for electric trucks is currently well on the way. However, high-capacity chargers for heavy-duty trucks raise the question of peak consumption management. Upgrading grid infrastructure and deploying megawatt-scale charging stations involve significant upfront investment especially in rural or highway-adjacent areas, where many truck stops are located and where often grid is not robust, making it costly and time-consuming to enhance power delivery capacity.
3. Refueling costs
Hydrogen, while effective for fast refueling, is still expensive per kilometer traveled as electrolyzers and other equipment required for hydrogen production and storage are still expensive due to limited manufacturing scale and lack of standardization.
Electricity, is currently more affordable, although costs can vary according to region and energy source. Fluctuations in energy prices therefore have a direct impact on the profitability of both technologies.
IV. What does the future hold for hydrogen and electric trucks?
1. Upcoming technological developments
The future of fuel cell hydrogen and battery electric trucks lies in continuous technological progress. For hydrogen trucks, the aim is to reduce hydrogen production costs while increasing fuel cell efficiency. These advances will make hydrogen more competitive with electricity.
Electric trucks, meanwhile, are benefiting from continous innovation in batteries, with efforts to increase their energy density, reduce their weight and improve their recyclability. Technologies such as solid-state batteries, still under development, could potentially improve the range and recharging times of electric vehicles.
2. Infrastructure development
For these technologies to become viable on a large scale, the infrastructure must be set up on a large scale. The network of hydrogen refueling stations is still limited and requires massive investment to expand. Governments and public-private partnerships play a key role here.
For electric trucks, the expansion of charging stations adapted to heavy-duty vehicles is just as important.
For both technologies programs to build "corridors", with fast-charging stations or hydrogen refueling stations strategically placed along major transport routes are the way. Infrastructure will play a key role for the FCEV and BEV markets to reach maturity.
3. Market adoption and outlook
The TCO of fuel cell hydrogen trucks should reach similar levels to internal combustion engine and battery technologies by 2030-2032, with hydrogen costing between 6 and 8 euros per kilogram and the price of fuel cell technology decreasing with mass production.
The adoption of fuel cell hydrogen trucks could therefore stand especially relevant for intensive usage in the segments where payload capacity, long range and fast refueling are decisive advantages, particularly for long distances and heavy loads. Battery electric trucks, meanwhile, could offer competitive alternative on short- to medium-distance routes and urban applications, where range and payload capacity constraints are less of an issue.
In conclusion, there is room for the coexistence of the two technologies as each meets specific needs. Environmental policies, subsidies and pressure to meet carbon neutrality targets will accelerate the adoption of both solutions.
V. In a few words
Decarbonizing mobility cannot rely solely on battery electric trucks. While they offer undeniable advantages for short distances and benefit from a more mature energy infrastructure today, they are not able to replace completely diesel trucks as they do not meet essential operational needs for heavy duty cargo fleets. Fuel cell hydrogen trucks, with their payload capacity, long range, rapid refueling and operational flexibility, appear to be a comprehensive complementary solution.
In addition, fuel cell heavy duty trucks offer interesting synergy with battery electric trucks as they use the same electric engine, changing only how it is fueled to adapt to different use case demands—this is similar to how diesel and gasoline have coexisted in the use of internal combustion engines.
In the long term, the coexistence of these two technologies will be essential to building truly sustainable fleets adapted to all types of mission.