Zero emissions transport relates to various segments of the market. Their varying characteristics (fleets or otherwise, required power, average distance covered, 24/7 use, etc.) and, particularly, their capacity to tackle the issue of air quality in urban areas nevertheless, explain why they are not all accorded the same level of priority, whether in France or elsewhere in the world.
For what vehicles?
Priority is thus given to
Hybrid battery/hydrogen
utility vehicles
(up to 3.5T)
and hydrogen
professional vehicles
such as taxis
Comprise the most promising sector on a short-term basis due to the way in which they are used (the need for greater autonomy than that provided by battery only vehicles, the need for recharge times which don’t exceed more than a few minutes, etc.) and significant restrictions (an increasing number of high restriction driving areas in towns and cities). There are more than 200 of these currently in France – there should be one thousand of them by 2020.
Waste skip
type vehicles
Can be electrified easily and provide economic benefits for incinerator electricity production.
Hydrogen buses
Allow users to retain the same operational flexibility and the same operating methods as with combustion engine buses, with one single charge required per day at the depot, and no need to connect it to an online recharge infrastructure. The overall cost of installations, vehicles and stations is favourable to hydrogen with regard to electrical solutions.
Heavy-goods
Delivery vehicles for use in town centres are currently being developed
(a dozen or so projects worldwide). This should be completed by 2020, in the knowledge that the battery option
is not a viable solution for this particular segment.
non-profesional vehicles
Thanks to the growing number of Hydrogen Refilling Stations (HRS), the market of passenger cars should take off in 2025-2030.
Trains,
in particular TER
TER (Express Regional Transport) will involve replacing diesel models across a number of lines which have not yet been electrified and for which the cost of electrification is prohibitive.
green maritime
and river goods transport
Given the requirements in terms of power, energy and versatility, the battery only option is not suitable for green maritime and river goods transport. Furthermore, ports and airports can be considered as hydrogen ecosystems based on renewable energy.