What types of energy are available today to power a truck?

What types of energy are available today to power a truck?

There are 4:

• Diesel
• Gas
• Hydrogen
• Electricity

Let’s review them one by one to see which will be the most effective in reducing CO2 emissions.

Note that all the CO2 emission reduction figures quoted are calculated from cradle to grave, in other words, they take into account all of the CO2 emitted, from the production of energy and vehicles to the end of the vehicles' life. These calculations were made for a 16-ton vehicle.

Biodiesel a fatty-acid ester produced from vegetable oils such as rapeseed, generates 65% less CO2 emissions than fossil-based diesel fuel. Thiscould be a good supplement for de-carbonising the road transport of goods. Today, it is obviously one of the cheapest solutions.

However, the use of biodiesel for road transport is restricted by the limited quantities available, and its production requires more arable land, which can mean the risk of deforestation and competes with other sectors, such as food production.

By 2040, it is very likely that no more than 10% of trucks will be using this type of fuel.

Synthetic fuels (XTL, HVO), second-generation biofuels, provide further reductions in CO2 emissions. Obtained from animal fats, used oils, or forestry residues, they do not compete with food products. However, the quantities currently available are very small and will probably remain so for the next few decades, since the amount of usable raw materials is limited.

E-diesel, produced using renewable electricity, water and CO2 from the atmosphere, also reduces CO2 emissions by 65% compared to fossil diesel fuels. However, making it available requires massive investments that are still not a sure bet.

Here, we are talking about methane, which exists in two forms: fossil natural gas and biogas produced from the fermentation of gasification of organic matter (biomass).

Fossil natural gas only allows to reduce CO2 emissions by 5% compared to diesel fuel. It is thus not a viable option for de-carbonisation.

Bio-Methane or biogas, produced from the fermentation or gasification of organic matter, allows to emit 75% less CO2 than with diesel fuel. However, the quantities of biogas available are, and will remain, limited. Thus, for its use, the transport sector will be competing with other business sectors, and its price (4 times higher than natural gas in 2019) is bound to rise due to the probable decrease in public funds for its production.

Biogas emits nitrogen oxides (NOx), which will disqualify it for use in the city centres. Lastly, its potential greenhouse gas effect, which contributes to global warming, is 86 times that of CO2 over an 80-year period and thus requires very close monitoring to minimize the risks of leaks during its production and transport.

About 10% of trucks, probably heavy, long-distance and construction vehicles, will likely run on biogas as of 2040.

The hydrogen we have access to presently, known as grey hydrogen, is produced from fossil methane and emits 14% more CO2 than fossil-based diesel fuel. Switching to green hydrogen, produced using renewable, electric-powered electrolysis would, however, allow to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 62%.

This transition will take place slowly and at the cost of heavy investments, and road transport will still be at a point where it is competing with other sectors that have no other way to de-carbonise. Its use on a broad scale cannot be expected before the next decade.

Hydrogen fuel cells are the most advanced technology using this energy today. Such cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electric power. An alternative use of hydrogen is in combustion engines that can use a less pure form and require less cooling. However, a downside is that such systems emit a small amount of NOx, which makes their use in cities unlikely, and they consume a bit more hydrogen than fuel cells.