A STRATEGY FOR INTRODUCING HYDROGEN INTO TRANSPORTATION

Considerable effort is being expended on research and demonstration projects aimed at introducing hydrogen into the transportation sector as a fuel, generally motivated by concerns about carbon dioxide emissions and petroleum imports (or scarcity). In this paper the authors focus on one aspect of strategy for introducing hydrogen--the choice of transportation mode. The analysis suggests that the cost of introducing hydrogen can be reduced by selecting a mode that uses a small number of relatively large vehicles that are operated by professional crews along a limited number of point-to-point routes or within a small geographic area. In addition, technological innovation in vehicle design will take place most quickly in modes where individual vehicles are produced to order and each receives significant engineering attention (not those manufactured in vast quantities on assembly lines). The immediate environmental benefits of introducing hydrogen fuel will be maximized in modes that have relatively less stringent pollution regulations applied to them. These insights suggest that heavy-duty freight modes would be a less costly way to introduce hydrogen as a transportation fuel and a more effective way to advance hydrogen-related technologies so that they could subsequently be used more widely in light-duty vehicles.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/conf/asilomar.pdf
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  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309085713
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • Farrell, A E
  • Keith, D W
  • Corbett, J J
• Conference:
  • Transportation, Energy, and Environmental Policy: Managing Transitions
  • Location: Monterey, California
  • Date: 2001-9-11 to 2001-9-12
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 142-160

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Carbon dioxide; Environmental impacts; Heavy duty vehicles; Hydrogen fuels; Imports; Light vehicles; Petroleum; Strategic planning; Technological innovations; Transportation; Vehicle design
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962790
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309085713
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 4 2003 12:00AM