The U.S. Presents a Strategic Plan for the Development of Charging Infrastructure and Hydrogen Refueling Stations for Medium and Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles

On March 13 (local time), the U.S. government announced its strategic plan for developing charging infrastructure and hydrogen refueling stations for medium—and heavy-duty commercial vehicles by 2040. This strategy aims to identify priority hubs based on freight volumes, connect these with critical corridors, and eventually achieve a national network by linking corridors.

The U.S. federal government’s National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy has been jointly developed by the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation as a “whole-of-government” approach. According to the Federal Highway Administration, this strategy aims to coordinate investments and accelerate the development of battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell freight infrastructure.

The National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy is a comprehensive roadmap for zero-emission medium—and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV) charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure from 2024 to 2040. It is meant to mobilize market activity around ZE-MHDVs across several sectors. Above all, it is meant to enable federal and state governments to prioritize and align funding, loans, and investments.

To develop the appropriate provision of energy for grids and the production of hydrogen fuel, the energy sector should be able to use the Strategy to “align grid development and fuel production with ZE-MHDV needs.”

The U.S. government has already set its goal of achieving emission-free status for at least 30 % of newly sold medium—and heavy-duty commercial vehicles by 2030 and increasing this to 100 % by 2040. Now, to facilitate the provision of appropriate charging and refueling infrastructure for these vehicles, the U.S. government has indicated intermodal hubs and heavily used ports from which charging and refueling freight corridors (“National EV Freight Corridors”) are to be built across the U.S.

From the starting point of the key hubs, the strategy is supposed to help stakeholders evaluate where new electricity load and hydrogen needs are likely to develop, to plan the ensuing corridors, and, ultimately, a comprehensive national freight infrastructure.

Additionally, the $7 billion investment from the Department of Energy in seven regional clean hydrogen hubs throughout the U.S. is mentioned.