Hydrogen-based trains, trucks, and buses: techno-socio-economic challenges and perspective

Making transportation sustainable and resilient in terms of environmental, social, and economic perspectives is the key consideration for the future passenger and freight transportation systems. Due to the urgent need to reduce carbon footprints by countries, followed by the government’s investments and initiatives, the fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) market is estimated to have a significant gross in the coming years. Hydrogen is the only type of fuel for this process, so when referring to FCEVs, it implies the fuel is hydrogen. The potential impact of fuel cell electric (FCE) freight and passenger transportation is not only limited to the environmental benefits but countries developing FCEVs have created new jobs and economic opportunities. To this end, this chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the techno-socio-economic challenges and opportunities regarding FCE heavy vehicles, that is, trains, trucks, and buses. It concludes that FCEVs are reasonable alternatives to petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles in meeting sustainable goals with environmental, social, and long-term economic benefits. Meanwhile, infrastructure upgradation regarding refueling and control systems, public awareness, and safety concerns require more investments and stakeholder collaborations to meet the challenges and targets.