Exploring Hydrogen's Role in Heavy-Duty Trucking

Clean hydrogen (H2) fuel can play a role in decarbonizing the heavy-duty transportation sector. Transportation is the biggest source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions within the United States, and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles make up 23 percent of transportation emissions. The heavy-duty transportation sector is defined as commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings more than 26,001 pounds and generally includes drayage trucks, short and regional day cabs, and long-haul Class 8 trucks. This sector is particularly difficult to decarbonize, as these trucks often require long ranges and carry heavy payloads. This report provides an overview of H2 truck technology, its current status in the United States, comparisons to diesel and battery electric trucks, challenges to deployment, and policy issues.

Katarina Nehrkorn

Senior Research Analyst

Katarina Nehrkorn

Beia Spiller

Fellow; Director, Transportation Program

Beia Spiller is a fellow and the director for RFF's Transportation Program. Her recent research has focused around electric vehicles and environmental justice, exploring some of the most pressing issues around electric car, truck and bus adoption.

Alan Krupnick

Senior Fellow; Director, Industry and Fuels Program

Alan Krupnick is a senior fellow at RFF.

On the Issues - Jun 21, 2024

On the Issues: Tolls in New York City, Extreme Heat and Hospitals, and More

A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: tolls in New York City, extreme heat and hospitals, and more.

Common Resources - Jun 20, 2024

We Need to Know More about Who Benefits from Policies that Reduce Traffic Congestion

The idea behind congestion pricing (i.e., applying a toll in high-traffic times or areas) is that vehicle traffic could decline while local revenues accrue-and pay for benefits like public transit improvements. Would congestion pricing benefit everyone?

Media Highlight - Jun 13, 2024

Semafor: "Big Oil Group Sues to Block Biden's EV Push"

RFF Senior Fellow Joshua Linn is quoted in an article about electric vehicles' litigious future.

Common Resources - Jun 12, 2024

A New Interdisciplinary Critical Minerals Research Lab for PhD Students

Announcement of new Critical Minerals Research Lab: application submissions are welcome from PhD students who are conducting interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research on critical minerals for the clean energy transition.