Freight vehicles: An evaluation of renewable energy fuels
In order to address the current gaps in knowledge, this research proposes a modelling approach to undertake a comparative evaluation of the energy and environmental performance of the electric battery and hydrogen fuel cell for freight vehicles in Australia.
Addressing the challenges associated with climate change, it is essential for the economy to transit smoothly to a low carbon and low emissions future. Among the various solutions to cut emissions produced by the transport sector, the use of electric battery and hydrogen-powered vehicles that rely on energy produced from renewable sources, is promoted as an attractive strategy to reduce transport emissions. However, currently there is limited understanding about the full costs and benefits of these technologies for the transport sector in Australia.
A life cycle assessment modelling approach will be used to evaluate their environmental sustainability, focused on fleets of electric battery and hydrogen freight vehicles.
The findings of this research will help in determining the best pathways for transitioning the conventional vehicle fleet powered solely by an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to a more sustainable freight transport fleet in Australia.
Project background
Mitigating climate change across all sectors of the economy is essential for the transition to a low carbon and low emissions future. In Australia, transport is the third-largest source of greenhouse gases, accounting for around 17% of emissions.
The transport sector is also one of the strongest contributors to emissions growth in Australia. Emissions from transport have increased nearly 60% since 1990, more than any other sector in the economy.
Within the transport sector, freight transport networks and supply chains present particular challenges to successful CO2 mitigation. While the road freight sector has emerging options and technology pathways for decarbonisation, implementing change is hugely challenging unless reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative fuels are available.
This has been recognised in Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy (Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, 2019), which identified early opportunities for hydrogen use in transport to include fleet vehicles and freight transport.
Set in a context where all sectors of the economy seek alternatives to fossil fuels, understanding the realistic proposition for hydrogen as a sustainable freight fuel in the timeframes dictated by emissions reduction targets is essential, which will be the overarching focus of this research.
Project objectives
Among the various solutions to cut emissions in the transport sector, the use of battery electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles that rely on energy produced from renewable sources, is promoted as an attractive strategy to reduce transport emissions.
While the use of alternative forms of non-fossil energy for freight vehicles holds great promise to combat global warming, the influence of energy pathways, electricity mix, driving conditions and range limitations are still not well understood in the Australian context.
To date, limited research is available about the full costs and benefits associated with implementation of electric battery and hydrogen-powered vehicles in the transport sector, particularly for heavy vehicle and freight purposes.
Such lack of understanding could potentially result in poor planning and hinder future investments from both public and private sectors in relevant markets. To address the current gaps in knowledge, this research proposes a modelling approach to undertake a comparative evaluation of the energy and environmental performance of electric battery and hydrogen fuel cell for freight vehicles.
Successful completion of this research will result in a number of practical deliverables which can be of direct benefit to the public, government agencies and community at large. The project outcomes can be used by all stakeholders to facilitate large-scale deployment of hydrogen interventions in freight networks and supply chains using evidence-based results obtained from a systems modelling approach of lifecycle assessment.
The research results will also open the way to a new paradigm for understanding of ways to reduce emissions from freight transport networks. The project would also enable new opportunities for public-private partnerships to deliver new solutions for freight network transport interventions, which provide consumers with more options to replace fossil-fuel solutions.
Final report
This project has been completed, and its final report is now available. A wrap-up of the project, and a downloadable copy of the final report, can be found at Prospects for decarbonising freight transport in Australia
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