The decarbonization of long-haul transportation

To reach the United Nations' strategic goal of an emission-free society until 2050, aside from passenger transport, freight transport needs to become independent from fossil fuels.© unsplash.com - Sven Brandsma Researchers of the University of Münster publish study on the competitiveness of battery and fuel cell electric trucks in long-haul transportation To reach the United Nations' strategic goal of an emission-free society until 2050, aside from passenger transport, freight transport needs to become independent from fossil fuels. Particularly challenging: the transformation of long-haul truck transportation. The market is characterized by price pressure and strict requirements on range, cargo capacity, and utilization of vehicles. Alternatives to diesel-powered engines such as batteries and fuel cells allow for emission-free operation, but differ in important technological properties such as efficiency, weight and charging or refueling time. Transparency on the cost impact of these properties is vital for haulers to reduce emissions, and truck manufacturers to offer attractive products. A research group of the University of Münster has now published a cost analysis of battery and fuel cell electric trucks.