The race to electrify heavy trucks is heating up, and the question on everyone's mind is: is hydrogen still in the running? While hydrogen fuel cells have long been touted as the solution to decarbonizing heavy vehicles, recent developments suggest that batteries are pulling ahead in the race. But is it really over for hydrogen trucks? Let's take a closer look at the factors at play and the future of this emerging technology.
The Rise of Battery-Electric Trucks
Battery-electric trucks are gaining traction due to several key advantages. Firstly, the weight of batteries would require a reduction in the load for heavy-duty trucks traveling long distances, which is unacceptable to operators. Secondly, battery-electric trucks can be charged in hours, which might not be practical for long-haul trucking. Hydrogen fuel cells, on the other hand, offer a higher energy density and faster refuelling times, similar to diesel.
China is leading the way in testing and adopting both technologies. The country's energy strategy for heavy-duty trucks calls for the construction of 3,000 charging and battery swapping stations, while hydrogen trucks and infrastructure are more vaguely addressed. In 2025, there were about 35,000 fuel cell trucks in the world, 95% of which were in China, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). China also accounted for 90% of electric truck sales last year, with about a quarter of the total trucks sold being electric.
The growth in China is largely due to high diesel prices and an expansion of charging infrastructure, including battery swapping stations. Chinese battery giant CATL plans to have 900 commercial heavy-truck swapping stations by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, EV battery prices have dropped globally, allowing manufacturers to extend the range of electric trucks without a proportional price increase.
The Economic Case for Batteries
The economic case for battery-electric heavy-duty trucks is improving, according to Nikita Pavlenko, the director of the fuels and aviation program at the International Council on Clean Transportation. Battery technology has won the race to electrify light-duty vehicles, and for heavy trucks, it's looking like the door is closing for hydrogen too. The cost of hydrogen itself is very expensive, and the hydrogen-fuelling infrastructure is not yet fully developed.
The Future of Hydrogen Trucks
While hydrogen trucks have established technologies and proven pilots and products to rapidly deploy in the trucking sector, they must differentiate themselves from their battery counterparts and amplify their advantages for carrying heavy loads long distances. Most battery-electric trucks around the world so far have been deployed on shorter, more predictable routes. Canada's push to electrify commercial vehicles faces one big obstacle: the battery. Lithium-ion has taken us far, but to go further, we'll need batteries that are lighter, safer, and more powerful.
In conclusion, the race to electrify heavy trucks is far from over. While batteries are currently pulling ahead, hydrogen fuel cells still have a role to play in the future of heavy-duty trucking. The key will be to find a balance between the two technologies and develop the necessary infrastructure to support them. As the world moves towards a low-carbon economy, the future of heavy-duty trucking is likely to be a hybrid of both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
