Summary
- Former President Trump brought up the topic of exploding hydrogen cars during his rallies
- Hydrogen fuel cell trucks are gaining more attention and are poised to become big business
- Despite the concerns about hydrogen cars, the focus is shifting towards fuel cell trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles
- The US Department of Energy supports fuel cell trucks through programs like SuperTruck 3 and Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
- BMW and Toyota plan to launch the industry’s first series production of a fuel cell electric car in 2028
Article
Former President Trump has recently been focusing on the dangers of explosive hydrogen cars during his rallies, despite the fact that hydrogen cars have a very small market share in the US. Trump’s sudden interest in this topic has been attributed to his growing connection with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has also shown distaste for hydrogen fuel cell technology. While hydrogen fuel cell cars are not gaining momentum in the US market, hydrogen fuel cell trucks are becoming more popular due to their advantages in power and fueling times compared to battery-powered trucks.
Despite the potential advantages of fuel cell trucks, the US market has not seen widespread adoption of this technology. However, companies like Nikola, which has been working on fuel cell electric trucks for about 10 years, are starting to see commercial success. Other companies like Bosch and Ford are also investing in fuel cell trucks, indicating a growing interest in this sector. The US Department of Energy’s SuperTruck 3 competition is also focusing on new batteries and fuel cells for electric trucks, further driving innovation in this space.
The US Department of Energy’s $7 billion Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program aims to ramp up and diversify the US hydrogen industry, with a focus on developing a sustainable hydrogen supply network. One of the proposed hubs, California’s ARCHES initiative, aims to create a clean hydrogen network for fuel cell trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles. BMW, in collaboration with Toyota, has announced plans to launch the industry’s first series production of a fuel cell electric car in 2028, showing a growing interest in fuel cell technology for vehicles.
The efforts to build a hydrogen network for fuel cell trucks could also lead to more economical conditions for introducing fuel cell cars into the market. The growing popularity of fuel cell forklifts in warehouses and fulfillment centers is also contributing to the development of the hydrogen fuel network. Despite the skepticism around hydrogen cars, the focus on hydrogen fuel cell trucks and the advancements in technology and infrastructure indicate a potential shift towards a more hydrogen-powered transportation sector in the future.
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