Truckipedia Blog Category - Commercial Transportation on the Path to a Sustainable Future

There has been a lot of talk recently about sustainable energy and its use on the path to net zero in the commercial transportation market.

Simply speaking, sustainable energy meets our environmental requirements without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs. This is why sustainable energy is so important to the transportation industry.  Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric (FCEV) and Battery Electric (BEV) are two sources that have been gaining a lot of traction in transportation.

So much in fact that if you purchase an Electric or Hydrogen vehicle in British Columbia or Alberta, there are various provincial and/or federal grants and subsidy programs in place for fleets or owner operators to take advantage of that will help offset some of the costs associated with making the change to a greener alternative.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

Hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in a sustainable energy future by providing a clean, versatile and efficient energy source.  Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles have been gaining attention due to a few facts:

1. Renewable Energy: Hydrogen can be produced from renewable energy sources like solar and wind power through electrolysis. This allows for the storage of excess renewable energy in the form of hydrogen, which can then be used when needed to power vehicles.
2. Clean Energy: Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen, producing only water as a byproduct. This means that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles emit no harmful pollutants and have zero greenhouse gas emissions, which makes them a promising alternative to traditional combustion engines.
3. Efficiency: Hydrogen fuel cells have a high efficiency rate compared to traditional combustion engines, making them more energy-efficient and cost-effective in the long run.

Battery Electric Vehicles

Battery Electric vehicles have the potential to play a significant role in a sustainable transportation future by providing a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil or diesel fuel-powered vehicles. Electric vehicles are gaining attention as a potential future of sustainability due to several reasons:

1. Zero Emissions: Battery electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, which makes them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles. This can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
2. Renewable Energy: Electric vehicles can be powered by electricity generated from renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power, which means that they can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
3. Energy Efficiency: Electric vehicles are more energy-efficient than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, as they convert up to 80% of the energy stored in their batteries into motion, while traditional cars only convert about 20% of the energy in gasoline into motion. This can result in lower fuel costs and fewer emissions.
4. Noise Reduction: EVs produce significantly less noise than traditional vehicles, making them a quieter and more pleasant driving experience.

Fueling Stations – Convenient and Sustainable

The electric and hydrogen fueling stations are very similar to diesel fueling stations – you just pull up, plug in the dispenser, take their fuel (or energy) and move on.  So, the overall footprint to build a hydrogen or electric station is not much larger than what you’d see in traditional gas stations. Thinking about sustainability of space in our eco-system is important as we change our way of thinking about alternative fuel options. Creation of convenience and unified approach to fueling stations just may be the way of the future.

Although there are still challenges to overcome, such as high cost of production and a need to develop infrastructure to support hydrogen or electric energy in transportation, we are seeing this becoming widely adopted as a mainstream energy source in not only Canada, but the world.