Energy-saving and emission-reduction potential of fuel cell heavy-duty trucks in China during the fuel life cycle

Exploring alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technology is a crucial strategy for vehicle emission reduction. Fuel cell heavy-duty trucks (FC-HDTs) have a promising application prospect to alleviate the high energy consumption and emissions of road freight, but their environmental performance during the fuel life cycle should be further studied. This study is aimed at evaluating the fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions of FC-HDTs in China using the updated GREET model. The results show that (1) comparing various hydrogen production pathways, it is found that the coke oven gas (COG) pathway can provide the best environmental performance, while the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the coal gasification (CG) and grid power water electrolysis (GPWE) pathways will be significantly decreased in the future. (2) Among the involved vehicles in China, FC-HDT with GVWR18 has the greatest energy-saving and emission-reduction potential. (3) The application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology in hydrogen production is conducive to improving the emission-reduction effect of FC-HDT while increasing its energy consumption slightly. The key to achieving upstream carbon neutrality is to optimize the hydrogen production structure and electricity mix, along with adjusting the hydrogen production process and transportation mode. Furthermore, the fuel economy and payload of the FC-HDT affect its environmental performance, indicating the importance of improving the technology of the drivetrain, fuel cell, and hydrogen storage tank.