The Use of Hydrogen for Traction in Freight Transport: Estimating the Reduction in Fuel Consumption and Emissions in a Regional Context

Mariano Gallo () and Mario Marinelli
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Mariano Gallo: Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Mario Marinelli: Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: The Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) includes, among other measures, investments in hydrogen vehicle refuelling stations, intending to promote the use of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) for long-haul freight transport. This paper evaluates the impact that this action could have on CO 2 emissions and fuel consumption, focusing on a case study of the Campania region. The proposed approach, which can also be transferred to other geographical contexts, requires the implementation of a freight road transport simulation model; this model is based on the construction of a supply model, the estimation of road freight demand, and an assignment procedure for computing traffic flows. This study covers the period from 2025 to 2040, according to the forecasts of the NRRP and some assumptions on the action effects; moreover, it is assumed that hydrogen is entirely produced from renewable sources (green hydrogen). The key findings from three different scenarios show that savings between 423,832 and 778,538 tonnes of CO 2 , and between 144 and 264 million litres of diesel could be obtained.

Keywords: freight transport; hydrogen; fuel cell electric vehicles; greenhouse gas emissions; fuel consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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