SAE Update - November 2024 - 12

TECH FOCUS: HYDROGEN
AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Hydrogen: A vital partner
in clean mobility
BEVs versus FCEVs
BEVs have made significant
progress, particularly in lightduty
and medium-duty
applications. However, the
relatively low energy density of
current battery technologies
poses limitations, especially for
heavy-duty vehicles like Class 7
and 8 trucks.
Some advancements in
lithium-ion battery chemistry,
such as lithium cobalt oxide,
offer higher energy densities up
to 150 MJ/kg. But these batteries
have their own barriers: short
lifespans (500 to 1,000 cycles),
low specific power, and
increased internal resistance with
age (which can cause a large
voltage and energy drop under
load after two or three years of
use), just to name a few. These
issues present major limitations
for heavy-duty transportation
required for truck applications.
Additionally, increasing battery
size for longer ranges leads to a
higher weight, which further
reduces payload capacity. That is
a significant trade-off for
industries that rely on efficient
logistics.
In contrast, hydrogen fuel cell
technology offers a compelling
solution. FCEVs use hydrogen to
12
November 2024
generate electricity onboard, providing a much higher
energy density up to 150 MJ/kg (or 30 to 35 kWh/kg)
of hydrogen. This allows FCEVs to cover longer
distances without sacrificing payload capacity, making
them an optimal choice for long-haul routes.
Additionally, FCEVs offer significantly faster refueling
times compared to BEVs, which is crucial for
minimizing downtime in long-haul operations.
Hydrogen combustion engines and fuel cellpowered
vehicles also leverage existing internal
combustion engine (ICE) technologies, providing a
zero-emission alternative for applications where
battery technology falls short. This makes hydrogen
technology an essential player in achieving
sustainable transportation, particularly for sectors
that demand high energy and long-range capabilities.
Key development needs
It is very evident that hydrogen's adoption has been
slower than expected or compared to BEV
technology, primarily due to a significant lack of
infrastructure and high upfront cost of establishing
the supporting infrastructure.
While battery charging networks have expanded
rapidly, hydrogen refueling stations remain scarce. The
high upfront costs of developing hydrogen
infrastructure, including production facilities and
refueling stations, have limited the widespread
deployment of hydrogen-powered vehicles. This is a
key reason why the operational cost of hydrogen fuel
cell trucks remains higher than BEVs.
Currently, the cost of operating a Class 8 fuel cell
electric truck (FCET) averages around $2.65 per mile
in California, compared to about half that cost for
BEVs. The major factor driving this disparity is the
high cost of hydrogen, which ranges between $30 to
UPDATE

SAE Update - November 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAE Update - November 2024

SAE Update - November 2024 - Cov1
SAE Update - November 2024 - Cov2
SAE Update - November 2024 - 1
SAE Update - November 2024 - 2
SAE Update - November 2024 - 3
SAE Update - November 2024 - 4
SAE Update - November 2024 - 5
SAE Update - November 2024 - 6
SAE Update - November 2024 - 7
SAE Update - November 2024 - 8
SAE Update - November 2024 - 9
SAE Update - November 2024 - 10
SAE Update - November 2024 - 11
SAE Update - November 2024 - 12
SAE Update - November 2024 - 13
SAE Update - November 2024 - 14
SAE Update - November 2024 - 15
SAE Update - November 2024 - 16
SAE Update - November 2024 - 17
SAE Update - November 2024 - 18
SAE Update - November 2024 - 19
SAE Update - November 2024 - 20
SAE Update - November 2024 - 21
SAE Update - November 2024 - 22
SAE Update - November 2024 - 23
SAE Update - November 2024 - 24
SAE Update - November 2024 - 25
SAE Update - November 2024 - 26
SAE Update - November 2024 - 27
SAE Update - November 2024 - 28
SAE Update - November 2024 - 29
SAE Update - November 2024 - 30
SAE Update - November 2024 - 31
SAE Update - November 2024 - 32
SAE Update - November 2024 - 33
SAE Update - November 2024 - 34
SAE Update - November 2024 - 35
SAE Update - November 2024 - 36
SAE Update - November 2024 - 37
SAE Update - November 2024 - 38
SAE Update - November 2024 - 39
SAE Update - November 2024 - 40
SAE Update - November 2024 - 41
SAE Update - November 2024 - 42
SAE Update - November 2024 - 43
SAE Update - November 2024 - 44
SAE Update - November 2024 - 45
SAE Update - November 2024 - 46
SAE Update - November 2024 - 47
SAE Update - November 2024 - 48
SAE Update - November 2024 - 49
SAE Update - November 2024 - 50
SAE Update - November 2024 - 51
SAE Update - November 2024 - 52
SAE Update - November 2024 - 53
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