It seems like only yesterday that a mysterious new program called Energy Earthshots was in the works for the US Department of Energy, and everybody was wondering what that could possibly be. The curtain has now lifted and the answer is clean hydrogen. If you’re thinking why clean hydrogen and not green hydrogen, that’s a good question. The answer could make fossil energy stakeholders very happy or very, very sad.
Hyundai Motor Company has released images of its newly upgraded XCIENT Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen. With design and performance updates, Hyundai’s zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle will become even more attractive to corporate fleet customers all over the world. Hyundai will begin production of 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell in August this year. Services like Truck repair near me would be essential for truck drivers all over the world.
“Hyundai Motor is leveraging more than 20 years of experience in fuel cell technology to further its vision of an eco-friendly hydrogen society,” said Jaehoon (Jay) Chang, CEO and President of Commercial Vehicle Division at Hyundai Motor Company. “With 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell, Hyundai will contribute to the widespread adoption of commercial vehicles powered by hydrogen.”
As Hyundai pushes the boundaries of eco-friendly transportation with its upgraded XCIENT Fuel Cell, the need for reliable maintenance and repair services for hydrogen-powered trucks becomes increasingly crucial. Just as Hyundai pioneers advancements in fuel cell technology, ensuring the seamless operation of these cutting-edge vehicles requires expert care and attention.
Truck drivers worldwide rely on efficient and knowledgeable auto repair services to keep their fleets running smoothly, and companies like Blue Wrench Auto stand at the forefront of this essential support network. Blue Wrench, with its dedication to excellence and specialization in heavy-duty vehicle maintenance, emerges as a trusted partner for fleet operators embracing Hyundai’s 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell and other hydrogen-powered trucks. With a deep understanding of the unique requirements of eco-friendly commercial vehicles, Blue Wrench offers comprehensive servicing, diagnostics, and repairs to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Similarly, diesel-powered trucks continue to play a vital role in the transportation industry, necessitating expert care and maintenance to keep them operating efficiently. As technology in diesel engines evolves, the need for specialized services becomes more pronounced. Companies like G&R Diesel provide this essential expertise, ensuring that diesel vehicles maintain peak performance and reliability. Whether it’s routine maintenance or addressing more complex issues, diesel specialists are crucial for extending the lifespan and enhancing the performance of these robust vehicles.
Hyundai has upgraded both the design and performance of XCIENT Fuel Cell, adding to its competitive edge for a better driving experience. The updated exterior design expresses the vehicle’s dynamic and eco-friendly performance. Decorated with a linear and bold ‘V’ shape of chrome details and multi-dimensional mesh patterns, the new radiator grille reflects the high-tech fuel cell truck’s unrivalled presence on the road, while serving its own technical function. The blue point color surrounding the grille and the decal graphics vividly visualizes the use of eco-friendly hydrogen energy.
Forever taking the fossil fuels out of delivering goods, from the long haul to the last mile, can go a long way toward reducing carbon emissions on a meaningful scale. What is attracting more companies to pursue electric fleets, and what’s holding back more of them from ditching the diesel?
“We’re seeing almost every day, it seems like, new product announcements, partnerships, joint ventures, significant investments being made,” said Ben Sharpe, senior researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation, speaking at the VERGE Electrify virtual event.
Legacy big-rig makers including Volvo, Daimler, Cummins and Peterbilt are aggressively bringing electric vehicles to market, as are a wide range of startups such as BYD, Proterra, Orange EV and GreenPower. Meanwhile, one of the Biden administration’s earliest big announcements this year was its goal to electrify federal fleets.
Advanced Digital Data Inc. (ADD Systems) promoted Andy Katsigiannis to director of customer support and hardware operations. His appointment follows the retirement of Roger Keyser, vice president of customer support and hardware operations.
Keyser retires after nearly 40 years with ADD Systems. He joined the company in 1982, only nine years after its start. He went from being the only trainer on the road to overseeing ADD’s complete customer support process, including hardware operations. Keyser was integral in the formation of ADD’s support teams, the company says.
“Roger has done an amazing job over the past 39 years,” says Bruce Bott, president of ADD Systems. “ADD customers and ADD employees have truly benefited from his expertise and his guidance. He’s done an equally phenomenal job preparing his department and all of ADD for his departure. He will be missed.”
The U.S. Grains Council is continuing to demonstrate to administration and global stakeholders the environmental benefits of ethanol.
Forty countries participated in the Leaders Summit on Climate, held in Washington, DC, April 22-23, 2021. Attendees, including foreign leaders and representatives of many countries that already have ethanol policies in place like China, Japan, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico and the EU heard President Biden’s climate goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and witnessed the submission of the U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution, the formal commitment by the U.S. to reduce emissions.
“Formal climate commitments, such as the Biden Administration’s announcement to reduce GHG emissions by 50-52 percent by 2030, open new opportunities to showcase ethanol’s environmental benefits,” said Isabelle Ausdal, USGC manager of ethanol trade policy and economics. “USGC is engaging with countries that are setting increasingly ambitious climate targets to ensure that all opportunities for ethanol are realized.”
The USDA predicts the 2021-’22 outlook for U.S. soybeans is for lower supplies, lower exports, higher crush and higher ending stocks, according to the agency’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released May 12. The use of soybean oil for biofuel production is forecast higher.
The soybean crop is projected at 4.4 billion bushels, up 270 million from last year on increased harvested area and trend yields. With lower beginning stocks, soybean supplies are projected down 3 percent from 2020-’21. Total U.S. oilseed production for 2021-’22 is forecast at 130.3 million tons, up 7.9 million from 2020-’21.
Chevron Corporation announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (Chevron) is investing an additional $20 million in the Adopt-a-Port initiative with Clean Energy Fuels. Chevron has now invested a total of $28 million in the initiative, which provides truck fleet operators and owners serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with cleaner, carbon-negative renewable natural gas to reduce emissions.
In addition to providing funding for Adopt-a-Port, Chevron supplies renewable natural gas to Clean Energy stations near the ports. Chevron’s funding will allow truck operators to subsidize the cost of buying new or converting to biomethane trucks. Clean Energy, meanwhile, will manage the program, including offering fueling services for qualified truck operators.
Truck operators participating in the program, which supports the ports’ Clean Trucks Program and Clean Air Action Plan, agree to fuel up at the Clean Energy stations supplied with Chevron renewable gas. Truck operators and their import and export customers are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program while also reducing smog-forming NOx emissions by up to 98% compared to diesel trucks, helping local communities.
When it comes to how best to decarbonize truck transportation, Volvo Group Chief Technology Officer Lars Stenqvist said, “Sometimes I have a feeling this debate gets too polarized.”
Volvo Group expects a near-term convergence of biofuel, battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric-powered trucks as the industry, in the U.S. and in Europe, begins to adopt transformative and disruptive technologies aimed at eliminating harmful emissions and “leapfrogging” current practices.
“So no silver bullet. Three technologies in parallel. They each will have competitive advantages in different applications,” Stenqvist said in an interview May 10. “They each have to live on their own merits. I am convinced we will be helped by some kind of [added] cost on fossil-based fuels going forward, some kind of tax or some kind of penalty because that will speed up this transition.”
City of Charlotte, North Carolina, residents can breathe easier knowing soon that the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) transit buses covering the region will become all electric, supported by a first-in-the-nation energy modeling and financing partnership with Duke Energy via subsidiary eTransEnergy. Under the leadership of Mayor Vi Lyles, City Manager Marcus Jones and CATS Chief Executive Officer John Lewis, Charlotte and city council have taken an important step toward reaching the city’s ambitious climate action goals by approving a 12- to 18 month pilot program set to test 18 battery electric buses of varying manufacturers, a first step to finding the most suitable vehicle for the city’s full transition to battery electric buses. Charlotte City Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the pilot program Monday.
Many of the largest U.S. cities’ transit agencies, from Seattle to Los Angeles to New York City, are working to convert their bus fleets from diesel to electric. Electric buses are cleaner, quieter and often more cost-effective than their diesel counterparts over the life of the vehicle, making it easier for transit agencies to choose electric. But while ripping up the diesel bill and sweeping air quality improvements make electric buses increasingly appealing, high up-front costs remain a barrier to making this critical investment in public health.
In partnering with eTransEnergy for this pilot, Charlotte and CATS are taking a new approach to financing, electricity modeling and testing multiple bus manufacturers prior to a full transition to an all-electric bus fleet, and cities nationwide can take note. The partnership allows Charlotte to bundle the up-front costs of 18 new buses from three manufacturers, charging infrastructure and the necessary training and maintenance to support a 12- to 18-month pilot. The pilot will allow CATS to collect data, evaluate the program’s viability and assess vehicle performance while operating on several transit routes.
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the selection of four projects totaling $1 million to conduct cutting-edge applied research and development concerning the interaction between promising biofuels and combustion engines. The projects will leverage a range of National Laboratory capabilities as part of the Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) initiative, and aim to help bring these fuel-engine combinations closer to commercial adoption. The Co-Optima initiative provides American industry with the scientific knowledge needed to maximize vehicle performance and efficiency, leverage domestic fuel resources, and reduce life cycle emissions.
