We at Magility GmbH are firmly convinced that hydrogen does not represent a viable solution for heavy-duty transport. While some experts, including most recently VDA President Hildegard Müller at the IAA Transportation, still view hydrogen as one of the promising pathways to decarbonizing truck fleets, we, after extensive analysis and practical experience – including multiple calculation scenarios and technology studies for the truck fleets of our logistics sector clients – consider this option inefficient and unrealistic. Instead, we are committed to battery-electric truck solutions (BET solutions), which we see as the practical and future-proof path for energy transformation in heavy-duty transport. As early as 2021, our CEO, Dr. Michael Müller, gave interviews on the challenges of hydrogen technologies, demonstrating Magility GmbH’s in-depth engagement with the topic.
The Challenges of Hydrogen
High Costs – We see cost structures as one of the biggest hurdles for hydrogen in heavy-duty transport.
- Production: The production of green hydrogen, which is essential to meet climate targets, is extremely energy-intensive. Since the electricity required for electrolysis comes from renewable energy sources, the production of hydrogen is significantly more expensive than the direct use of electricity in batteries.
- Infrastructure: Building a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure, including refueling stations and pipelines, involves immense costs. The investments required to create a functioning supply chain are disproportionate to the already existing charging infrastructure for battery-electric vehicles, which continues to be expanded.
- Vehicle Acquisition: Fuel cell vehicles are currently significantly more expensive to purchase than battery-electric trucks. The high acquisition costs and the complicated technology result in a clear disadvantage compared to the increasingly efficient BET (battery electric truck) solutions.
Low Efficiency – For us, the efficiency of hydrogen technologies remains another obstacle.
- Energy Losses During the conversion of electricity into hydrogen and the subsequent reconversion into electrical energy via fuel cells, a large portion of energy is lost. This means that significantly more electricity is required to generate the same amount of energy than with the direct use of batteries.
- Overall Efficiency Battery-electric trucks have a much higher efficiency due to their direct drive with electricity. This makes them a better choice for the future of heavy-duty transport, both from an ecological and economical perspective.
The Advantages of BET Solutions
At Magility, we focus on the continuous improvement of battery technology as the key to decarbonizing heavy-duty transport. The advantages of BET solutions are clear!
Cost Efficiency
- Decreasing Costs: Due to mass production and technological advancements, battery prices are continuously decreasing. Economies of scale are leading to a significant reduction in costs for both vehicles and infrastructure.
- Fast Charging Times: Fast charging systems are developing rapidly, and charging times for battery-electric trucks are becoming shorter and shorter. This progress increasingly debunks the argument that electric trucks are impractical due to long charging times.
Technological Maturity
- Proven Technology: Batteries have already proven themselves in many areas of mobility, from cars to buses to light commercial vehicles. The technological maturity and continuous development make battery-electric trucks a reliable option for fleet operators.
- Multiple Uses: After their use in vehicles, batteries can be used for stationary energy storage. This extends their lifespan and improves their economic sustainability.
Infrastructure Expansion
- Existing Power Grid: Unlike the complex hydrogen infrastructure, there is already a well-established power grid. The expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is progressing rapidly worldwide, and more and more charging stations are becoming available. With intelligent load management and the use of renewable energies, the power grid can be operated in a stable and sustainable manner.
Conclusion: E-Mobility as a Viable Solution
At Magility, we see hydrogen in heavy-duty transport as an inefficient and cost-intensive solution that does not meet the requirements of this sector. The high costs, low efficiency, and underdeveloped infrastructure are barriers that cannot be overcome in the foreseeable future. In contrast, E-solutions offer a mature, efficient, and economically sustainable way to drive the energy transition in heavy-duty transport. With the continuous development of battery technology and the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure, we see battery-electric mobility as the key to decarbonizing heavy-duty transport.
“Hydrogen remains an illusion for us – battery-electric trucks, on the other hand, represent a realistic and achievable future vision.” – Jürgen Schenk, Senior Advisor, Magility GmbH
Our experts are happy to assist you in mastering the energy transformation in the mobility sector successfully. We support you with professional and holistic planning of your procurement scenarios through dynamic cost analyses. For the conversion and optimization of your fleets, we develop customized decision matrices based on typical usage periods, which will efficiently ease your management efforts.
