2026-01-14 チャルマース工科大学
If trucks ran on hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide emissions from heavy-duty road transport could be significantly reduced. At the same time, a new study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden shows that differences in how the gas is produced, distributed and used greatly affect its climate benefits. Locally produced green hydrogen is the best option for the climate – with the additional benefit of enabling all countries to become self-sufficient in energy and fuel, even in times of crisis and war.
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.cision.com/chalmers/r/the-best-hydrogen-for-heavy-duty-transport-is-locally-produced-and-green,c4287446
- https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)01868-1
車両指向およびスウェーデン方式のライフサイクルアセスメント：長距離トラック用水素 Vehicle-oriented and Sweden-framed life cycle assessment: Hydrogen for long-haul trucks
Jorge Enrique Velandia Vargas ∙ Selma Brynolf ∙ Maria Grahn ∙ Felipe Rodriguez ∙ David Blekhman
iScience Published:September 19, 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113607
Highlights
- Life cycle assessment with a robust technical approach in Swedish conditions
- Hydrogen trucks offer decarbonization when compared to fossil counterparts
- Biofuels and electric trucks potentially offer more decarbonization than hydrogen
- Hydrogen leaks jeopardize the carbon mitigation obtained by renewable hydrogen
Summary
Hydrogen trucks are an alternative for decarbonizing the long-haul segment. However, the environmental footprint benefits depend on how hydrogen is produced, transported, and used but also in truck characteristics. We conduct life cycle assessment to quantify the impacts per ton-km. For centralized production, we included electrolysis and steam reforming cases, with dedicated transportation pathways but also included production onsite. We evaluated fuel cells and combustion engines and included supply chain hydrogen leakages. We found that global warming potential (GWP) of different truck versions varies up to 50tCO2eq per vehicle. Additionally, electrolysis powered by the Swedish grid appears more competitive than blue hydrogen, for most cases evaluated. For high hydrogen leakage scenarios (∼30%), GWP of green hydrogen, per ton-km, increases 2-fold. The low payload of tanker ships transporting hydrogen nullifies the benefits of importing green hydrogen. Truck manufacturing industries and low-carbon electricity enhance the potential for hydrogen to decarbonize the segment in Sweden.
