Fleets don’t have to wait for a major fuel company to set up a hydrogen station for fuel cell and internal combustion trucks. They can build their own.
On-site hydrogen production is a growing option, particularly as more companies acquire fuel cell forklifts to lower their carbon footprint. During the grand opening of their truck factory in San Antonio earlier this year, Navistar told reporters that they would produce hydrogen on-site for their fuel cell forklifts.
“Right now, a hydrogen station is not certified, per se (neither are gasoline stations, for that matter),” said Jennifer Hamilton, technical director at California Fuel Cell Partnership. “There are component standards that manufacturers follow, certainly, and can make the investment to get said component certified to a standard. Dispensers are an example.” Kenworth's fuel cell and all-electric lineup shown above at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in May.Commercial Carrier Journal
“That’s the great thing because it gives people flexibility now,” said Jim Nebergall, general manager of Cummins' hydrogen engine business. “It’s hard to produce diesel on-site. This is a new option.
“I think we will see behind the fence fueling with onsite production,” Nebergall continued. “People do that today with hydrogen-powered forklifts, so those customers are looking at this and are very interested.”
[Related: Cummins, Air Products announce hydrogen partnership]
