Technology lever 1: BETs BETs are in the early adoption stage with a TRL at 8-9.263 Electric trucks use batteries (today almost exclusively lithium-ion batteries) arranged in a battery pack. The battery pack is combined with inverters and an electric motor to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Heavy-duty trucks in particular require either devoted infrastructure (e.g. battery swapping) or high-energy density battery chemistries (e.g. solid-state batteries, as of 2023, are at the prototype level) to be competitive. Medium-duty trucks have similar (but less demanding) requirements. Technology lever 2: HETs HETs are based on two types of technology: hydrogen fuel cell trucks (TRL 8-9264) and direct hydrogen internal combustion trucks (TRL 7). Hydrogen fuel cell trucks have significant advantages for long-haul trucking. Compared to BETs, they offer longer driving ranges and faster refuelling times – typically within 10 to 15 minutes,265 which is similar to conventional diesel trucks. In addition, fuel cells can consistently provide power without the need for large, heavy battery packs, making them a viable option for heavier freight transport. Hydrogen internal combustion trucks involve combusting hydrogen directly in an engine that does not rely on fuel cells. Although less energy efficient than fuel cells today (40-50% efficiency for hydrogen engines vs. 50-60% for fuel cells266), the hydrogen engine does not require rare materials like platinum and could represent a cost-effective solution. Hydrogen internal combustion engines may also offer transient behaviour that performs more effectively and is easier to regulate than fuel cells. Over the longer term, it could also reach up to 55%267 energy efficiency for trucks; as such, it could be particularly suitable for heavy-duty applications. R&D (at TRL 5-6268) is currently underway to improve fuel efficiency, which is another key area of future development for this technology.1 Net-Zero Industry Tracker: 2024 Edition 68

Net Zero Industry Tracker 2024