Global logistics giant DHL is working for Diageo North America – the makers of Captain Morgan rum – with a new distribution of Nikola trucks powered by hydrogen. again independent hydrogen fuel station.
DHL has established itself as a leader in zero-emission trucking with BEV fuel truck programs dating back to 2015, when the shipping company put its first Orange EV yard dog to work at Diageo's Plainfield, Illinois, terminal. As such, you may be surprised to learn that DHL is opting for a hydrogen-powered Nikola instead of a pure electric version.
For their part, the Nikola/Diageo press release plays up the “EV” part of “FCEV” in an attempt to convince readers that their hydrogen trucks are as “green” as EVs – which readers have been reading for a long time. Electrekyes, awareness is nonsense.
That said, DHL doesn't want you to think about hydrogen vs. battery here. Instead, the alternatives are diesel, CNG, or hydrogen. Also, in this application – heavy hauling, easy 350-400 mile routes throughout the Great Lakes region, and limited charging available for large trucks outside of California – hydrogen trucks. strength they offer a significant reduction in emissions compared to diesel, and that's what the DHL pilot hopes to achieve.
“As a global logistics company with a mission to decarbonize its business, we have included sustainability as the fourth strategic line called 'Green Logistics of Choice' in our recently announced 2030 Strategy,” explained Jim Monkmeyer, President of Logistics, DHL Supply. A chain. “The distribution of these electric vehicles is one of the many programs that show that we are putting things back on our word.”
In addition to offering a range of 500+ miles on a full (partially full) tank, Nikola trucks offer significant improvements in driver comfort and ADAS efficiency by reducing the noise and vibration found in diesel and CNG trucks, which reduces driver fatigue and improves. the ability of cameras and sensors to clearly see the road ahead.
“We are very excited to be a part of this partnership that brings the first set of heavy-duty hydrogen trucks to Illinois, home of our largest manufacturing facility in North America,” said Marsha McIntosh, President of North American Supply at Diageo. “This move is part of our ongoing work to reduce our carbon footprint in Plainfield, Illinois making our operations more efficient and sustainable.”
Electrek's Take
When the CEO of a heavy-duty truck brand tells you that hydrogen isn't green and doesn't save you any money, you know there are big dollars behind it – and that's right. The US government has subsidized fossil fuels to the tune of tens of billions of dollars over the past few decades (orders larger than EVs, in fact), so the relative pennies on the dollar they spend on hydrogen and BEVs seem reasonable. play.
Whether this particular hydrogen pilot program will make enough sense for DHL and Diageo to continue with HFCEVs going forward, however, remains to be seen.
SOURCE | PHOTOS: Diageo, via Nikola.
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