Seven Midwestern states have signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate hydrogen production, which could potentially fuel the fuel cell truck’s fuel supply.
Dubbed the Midwest Hydrogen Alliance, the group of participating states includes Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to a release.
By agreement, reported by Topics about TransportationParticipating countries will work together to identify the best ways to produce hydrogen in their region and define “clean hydrogen”.
Cooperation GM-Navistar
The alliance will also promote the Midwest as a promising region for hydrogen production, specifically touting existing infrastructure for ammonia production and transportation, such as pipelines. Ammonia “is an ideal hydrogen carrier,” the team claims.
Among the stated uses of this hydrogen are transportation, including medium and heavy duty trucks, as well as rail, air and Great Lakes transportation applications. However, commercial hydrogen trucks may be closer to maturity than other forms of transportation.
California a year ago predicted 100 retail hydrogen stations by the end of 2023, but that’s the beginning in the Midwest and other regions. Infrastructure in California is underdeveloped to accommodate the small number of passenger cars rented in the state to meet zero-emission vehicle requirements. Fuel cell car drivers have experienced unreliable stations and inadequate hydrogen supplies, so hopefully the Midwest alliance will learn from California’s experience.
Individual automakers are shifting their focus to fuel cells stay away from passenger vehicles—Probably accelerated by some serious supply problems in 2019 and 2020. It is accelerated research into fuel cell trucks already underway by several automakers.
Toyota ‘Project Portal’ of hydrogen fuel cell hot-selling tractors, for the Port of LA
In California, Toyota has just successfully completed a program to use 10 half-cycles of hydrogen fuel cells for port duty, and it plans to making hydrogen fuel cell modules in the US starting in 2023. General Motors in 2021 announced a program with Navistar that will lead to 2,000 long-distance hydrogen fuel cell half-cycles.
