Environmental solutions may be great for boating

May 30, 2023

The whole world seems united in the idea of taking action to protect the planet and among the immediate effects we are seeing is the move to green vehicles. Governments are driving this change by basically banning petroleum fueled vehicles in the next few years.

Passenger cars are rapidly going battery electric, but that is not going to be as effective for the trucking industry. 

Luckily, the economic considerations work a lot better for trucks due to the value of the cargoes and the distances commercial trucks need to cover. More sophisticated solutions can be justified. I’m reading about hydrogen-powered electric trucks on public roads and Volvo seems to be a leader in this area.

Emitting only water vapor, hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks will be an important part of Volvo Trucks’ zero exhaust emission product portfolio. I have recently read that Volvo-powered vehicles have passed an important milestone – they are now being test-driven on public roads.

Last year, Volvo Trucks showcased its fuel cell electric trucks for the first time. These zero exhaust emission trucks use hydrogen to produce their own electricity onboard, can travel long distances, making them suitable for longer transport assignments. That’s the aspect that I think makes these new propulsion systems very appropriate for boats – big boats at least.

According to a report I read, Volvo currently offers the industry´s broadest product line-up of battery electric trucks, with six models in series production, catering to a very wide variety of transports in and between cities. Better yet, their fuel cell electric trucks will be available in the second half of this decade. Volvo’s hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks will use two fuel cells with a capacity to generate 300 kW of electric power. Green hydrogen is an endless resource that is produced by using renewable energy sources, such as wind, water and sun.

How long will it take for these systems to make it to the boating industry? Not long I bet!

Andy Adams – Editor