Why Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines are Trending in the Construction Industry

There are sustainable energy sources for every power and distance need. When it comes to heavy equipment and machinery in construction, H2-ICE is one of the best options for powering major energy-using vehicles.

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The world is facing a shift toward more sustainable and eco-friendly methods of power. The construction industry has been dealing with alternative options to the diesel engines it knows and loves. But hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) make the switch easy, some experts say. Hydrogen ICE is a similar way of fueling and provides similar power abilities. The Engine Technology Forum hosted the Exploring the Future for H2-ICE as a Decarbonization Strategy webinar on July 24, 2024, to educate participants on the topic of hydrogen internal combustion engines and the way this method of fueling will play a part in the energy transition. The event was led by Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, and the panel consisted of speakers from Tenneco, FPT Industrial, Cummins, and Johnson Matthey.

The panel worked together to inform viewers about hydrogen as a fuel and answer a medley of questions from the media.

Benefits of H2-ICE

With strict rules put in place in the United States and globally, H2-ICE is a great option, said Jim Nebergall, general manager of the hydrogen engine business at Cummins.

“It was part of the EPA Greenhouse Gas Phase 3 stringency justification. We have a very challenging regulation ahead with greenhouse gas Phase 3 in the U.S. and globally very challenging carbon reduction goals, and this technology fits that strategy very well,” Nebergall said.

End users particularly like H2-ICE because it is the most diesel-like technology solution, he added. Some of the features they like include:

Hydrogen internal combustion engines are quite similar to diesel engines but with the benefit of being zero-carbon and low in nitrogen oxides (NOx). Other than its strengths and carbon neutrality, H2-ICE is a great option due to its ability to use hydrogen sourced from just about anywhere.

“Hydrogen can be generated from a variety of routes and it has a full rainbow of colors to describe the various routes. Depending on where that hydrogen comes from, it’s going to have different levels of purity, but the great thing about the hydrogen internal combustion engine is it can use any of them,” said Louise Arnold, product line manager at Johnson Matthey.

H2-ICE’s Standing

Hydrogen internal combustion engines produce very low tailpipe emissions and are able to provide good force for large vehicles or vehicles in need of more power.

Dmitri Konson, vice president of global engineering at Tenneco discussed some of the key differences between battery-electric vehicles, fuel-cell electric vehicles, and hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles. Konson explained that battery-electric is great if the vehicle needs moderate power and range and has time to charge overnight. He said fuel-cell is a good option if you need medium power and must travel longer distances. H2-ICE is best when there is a need for high power, for low or high range, he added.

There are sustainable energy sources for every power and distance need. When it comes to heavy equipment and machinery in construction, H2-ICE is one of the best options for powering major energy-using vehicles. 

Trending with Hydrogen

There are many reasons that hydrogen internal combustion engines are a preferred choice when it comes to making a sustainable power switch. It makes sense to have an H2-ICE trend for the trucking and construction industries when taking into account the similarities to diesel power and the sustainable capabilities that come along with hydrogen power. 

To learn more about H2-ICE and hear what else the panel had to say, check out Engine Technology Forum’s webinar video or take a look at its website. This webinar took place in tandem with Ameya Joshi’s White Paper where more in-depth information is available on the topic.