Cost and Emission Performance of Blue and Grey Hydrogen as Diesel Alternatives in Fuel Cell Trucks

This study examines the cost and emission performance of blue and grey hydrogen as alternatives to diesel in hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the Gulf–Europe corridor. Specifically, it evaluates the feasibility of using hydrogen-powered trucks (H-trucks), fuelled by blue or grey hydrogen, as sustainable alternatives to conventional diesel trucks (D-trucks). To evaluate hydrogen fuel over diesel fuel, the study first develops bi-objective integer linear programming (ILP) models and performs Pareto optimality analysis to trade-off costs and emissions for both H-trucks and D-trucks over the 1200-kilometre (km) corridor. Second, it determines superior cost and emission boundaries for H-trucks, quantifying the emission and cost reductions achieved by H-trucks relative to D-trucks. Third, it determines the optimal fleet composition for H-trucks, including a mix of light-duty trucks (LDTs), medium-duty trucks (MDTs) and heavy-duty trucks (HDTs). The findings indicate that blue hydrogen stands out as a viable diesel alternative with a superior emission boundary of 1.5–4.5 kg-CO₂ (kilogram-carbon dioxide)/kg-H₂ (kilogram-hydrogen) and a cost boundary of $1.1-3.0/kg. Compared to D-trucks, blue H-trucks can reduce emissions by up to 3.28 times (327.76%) and costs by up to 23.54% in the Gulf–Europe corridor. For scenarios with lower or upper emission and cost limits, HDTs are recommended to minimise costs, while MDTs are preferred to reduce emissions. These results support the adoption of blue H-trucks as a cleaner and more cost-effective option, advocating for a shift towards hydrogen-based transportation to enhance environmental sustainability and economic efficiency.