How the Midwest Can Lead the Hydrogen Economy: Matching Generation Assets to Distribution Markets in Planning Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure for Trucking and Transit

Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles provide one important path to decarbonization in transportation, particularly for heavy-duty applications such as transit and trucking. Both fleet types face a common challenge in transitioning to low emission fuels: how to economically support one-to-one replacement of conventional diesel vehicles, especially with respect to range and refueling time. This study explores the regional assets along a major freight corridor from Pittsburgh to Minneapolis that could enable a hydrogen refueling infrastructure for transit agencies and long-haul trucking, the likely early adopters of low-emission hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. Among the assets available along this corridor are nuclear power plants, which can be repurposed in part to generate carbon-free hydrogen. The proximity of these plants to current and future hydrogen consumers in transportation and industry could minimize delivery costs and help smooth the balance between supply and demand.