The future of trucking?

Warbirds

I am not trying to stir the pot here.

According to the below link Anheuser-Busch is going to a fleet of hydrogen electric trucks with some pretty interesting claims.
[url] https://www.purposebeyondbrewing.com/initiative/nikola-hydrogen-electric-trucks.html?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Traffic&utm_campaign=Environment_Social&utm_content=Blueprint_Truck[/url]

SCOUT5

Hydrogen fueled electric power has been around for quite awhile. Glad to see it's getting some traction. A lot of potential, if it can be realized it will change the power industry.

danielgage

interesting

Mobuck

I followed "the future of trucking" on a 2 lane highway a couple days ago. I was sure glad I was following rather than meeting the incapable SOB.
As far as the nuts and bolts, it's going to be a looooong time before new technology replaces the majority of trucks on the road. My Cousin drives day trips for a grocery chain. He complained to high heaven when the company handed the keys to a Volvo with an AUTOMATIC transmission and a computer controlled go pedal. He's on the second of this type (ran the first one 400K)and has admitted it was far less tiring to drive and more fuel efficient. The major issues were not with the transmission or engine but with the peripheral electronics controls. Some of that stuff is just not up to handling the temperature variations, the vibrations, and other environmental challenges.
That will be the question on something like fuel cell systems---can the "lab rat" systems handle the "rubber meets the road" conditions?

droptop

Wondered why A-B would take such a risk and ran across this article.

AB InBev?s order for 800 Nikola semis, leased for seven years at up to $1 million each (fuel included), goes some way toward proving hydrogen?s case. If Nikola can deliver the trucks, the brewer will use them to haul Budweiser from the West Coast to distribution centers hundreds of miles away. Subject to the same ?if,? Nikola will collect on $10 billion in preorders from such firms as the fleet operator U.S. Xpress.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2019/09/05/behind-new-billionaire-trevor-miltons-3-billion-push-to-make-america-run-on-hydrogen/#2414b18e379f

Seems to me that A-B has a minor risk and Billionaire Trevor Milton founder and CEO of Nikol is taking a bigger risk.

If this works and avoids blowing another grand canyon sized hole in Arizona, this will spread quickly. OMG what will the greenies complain about next,,, lack of CO2 :?:

droptop

This is happening faster than I'd thought.

Specifically, it hauled the shipment of beer in a Nikola hydrogen-electric semi, before its partner brought the adult beverage to its final destination in a BYD electric truck. Anheuser-Busch placed an order for 800 of the hydrogen-electric Nikola semi trucks last year as the beer brewer looks to turn its entire long-haul vehicle fleet into a zero-emissions one. By 2025, the company has committed to shaving 25% of its carbon emissions.

The beer brewer will run a fleet of Nikola Two hydrogen-electric trucks. These models do not solely run on hydrogen, but incorporate both a hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric powertrain. On hydrogen, the Two should go up to 750 miles. With electricity from the battery, Nikola expects up to 350 miles of range. The BYD electric trucks, like the one used in this first shipment, are meant to complement the semis.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/budweiser-beer-nikola-hydrogen-electric-semi-truck/

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