Green Hydrogen and Electric Heavy‑Duty Trucks Accelerate Energy and Transport Decarbonisation

Green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis using renewable electricity, is being promoted as a low‑carbon fuel for hard‑to‑decarbonise sectors such as heavy industry, shipping, fertilizer production and commercial transport. The International Energy Agency reports that clean hydrogen accounted for less than one percent of total global hydrogen output in 2023, and the technology faces high costs and limited infrastructure.

In Europe, the shift to electric heavy‑duty trucks (eHGVs) is similarly nascent. Across the EU there are about 4.5 million heavy‑goods vehicles, of which roughly 14,500 (0.32 %) are electric; in the UK the share is even lower at 0.16 %. Adoption is hampered by the "payload penalty" of large battery packs, long charging times with existing rapid chargers, and the massive power demand of megawatt‑scale charging stations, which can strain local grids. Companies are exploring holistic fleet optimisation and "second‑life" battery solutions to lower costs and reduce grid impacts.