Haulage bosses cautiously welcome EU H₂ plan

Truckers are receptive to diesel alternatives, but costs and regulatory uncertainty could deter adoption ahead of LNG and CNG vehicles

Senior officials at two major European road haulage associations believe hydrogen fuel cell (FCH) trucks can replace their diesel counterparts for long-haul deliveries—providing policymakers give them the necessary incentives and commitments. In December, the EU’s Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) public private partnership published an exhaustive report detailing how FCH heavy-duty trucks can seize a sizeable chunk of the continent’s haulage market within the next decade. In order to meet the EU’s 2050 emissions target, all trucks sold from 2030 onwards must be zero-emission vehicles, the report claims. FCH trucks can be cost-competitive in terms of total cost of ownership