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Hydrogen is an abundant, domestically produced, fuel that can be used in several different applications.  

Hydrogen as a fuel type for transportation has multiple applications, with heavy-duty trucks being at the forefront of the hydrogen transition. Vehicles that can be fueled by hydrogen consist of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE). FCEVs are the most readily available hydrogen-fueled vehicle. In FCEVs, hydrogen is compressed and stored in the vehicle. When the vehicle is ready to move, the compressed hydrogen is converted to electricity to propel the vehicle. Read more about the process here.  

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There are several benefits to using hydrogen as an energy source, including:  

  • Fast refueling time  

  • No tailpipe emissions, the only byproducts are water vapor and warm air 

  • Increased range compared to battery electric vehicles  

  • Can be produced domestically  

  • Can be produced from renewable sources 

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See the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office publication on the benefits of using hydrogen in the transportation sector.  

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For more resources on hydrogen from a broader scale, see the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office home page.​

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Hydrogen In North Texas

Texas already boasts a substantial workforce well-versed in hydrogen technology, as the Texas Gulf Coast is the source of approximately one-third of the entire nation’s hydrogen supply.  

In Texas, the transition to using hydrogen vehicle technology will likely prioritize the medium-/heavy-duty trucking industry because:  

  • In DFW and San Antonio, heavy-duty trucks make up 48% of all ozone-forming NOx emissions 

  • In Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, heavy-duty trucks make up 54% of all one-forming NOx emissions.  

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The biggest constraint currently in Texas is identifying demand for hydrogen fuel in long-haul, heavy-duty trucking. DFW Clean Cities is helping prepare the region for adoption of hydrogen vehicles through the following activities: 

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  • Texas Hydrogen and Electric Freight Truck Infrastructure Project (Tx-HEFTI) (Ongoing): NCTCOG has been awarded $70 million through the Corridor Program of the Federal Highway Administration’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program to construct up to 5 medium-/heavy- duty hydrogen refueling stations along the Texas Triangle. The Tx-HEFTI project was informed by NCTCOG’s Interstate 45 Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan. See the official announcement here.  

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  • The Houston to Los Angeles (H2LA) I-10 Hydrogen Corridor Project (Ongoing): A $1.25 million grant from the U.S. DOE was awarded to GTI Energy to develop a flexible and scalable blueprint for an investment-ready, hydrogen fueling and heavy-duty freight truck network from Houston to Los Angeles along I-10, including the Texas Triangle. NCTCOG is an official project partner and will assist in providing community insight and trucking data to GTI Energy. Please see our H2LA homepage for more information on the project and NCTCOG’s role.  

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  • The Interstate (IH) 45 Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure Deployment Plan (Completed): Funded by an applied research funding opportunity from Federal Highway Administration, NCTCOG in collaboration with H-GAC and stakeholders developed an Interstate Highway (IH) 45 Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Corridor Plan to facilitate the use of ZEV Heavy-Duty Battery Electric Vehicle and H2 trucks from Dallas to Houston. Learn more about IH45 ZEV Corridor Plan here.

    • 4/25/2022 ZEV Workshop -– NCTCOG and DFW Clean Cities, in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), hosted a Zero Emission Vehicle Workshop for over 100 fleet managers, local governments, IH-45 stakeholders, and industry experts.  â€‹

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Hydrogen in the State of Texas 

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Texas Hydrogen Alliance: 

The Texas Hydrogen Alliance (THA) was created in fall 2021 as a nonprofit 501(c) organization focused on providing education and public policy advocacy to expedite the adoption of hydrogen technology. Texas Hydrogen Alliance is a working group of industry professionals and stakeholders in the production, implementation, and consumption of hydrogen in the State of Texas. See their website for more information.   

 

Alternative Fuel Corridor Designations:  

TxDOT and NCTCOG have participated in almost every nomination cycle under the FHWA Alternative Fuels Corridor Program. Due to the extensive industry involvement in the IH 45 ZEV Plan, NCTCOG received numerous inquiries from stakeholders asking how to get involved in nominating additional highways for hydrogen designation. Three pending hydrogen corridors were selected in Texas, as announced in October 2023. See NCTCOG’s Alternative Fuel Corridors homepage. 

 

Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub:  

HyVelocity was selected to be awarded up to $1.2 billion from the Department of Energy H2Hubs program to help kickstart the clean hydrogen economy in Texas and Southwest Louisiana. DFW Clean Cities/NCTCOG is participating in collaborative efforts to support the HyVelocity Hub. See the HyVelocity Hub homepage here. 

  • Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program (H2Hubs): In October 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), in collaboration with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), announced the seven awarded regional clean hydrogen hubs. The purpose of the H2Hubs is to kickstart a national network of hydrogen producers, consumers, and infrastructure by accelerating the commercial-scale deployment of clean hydrogen.  

 

Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP): 

TERP is a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality program that offers grants for people and businesses to purchase or upgrade their vehicles/equipment to newer, cleaner technology. TERP has multiple programs that allow funding for hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure, however the following program was created specifically for hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure: 

  • The Texas Hydrogen Infrastructure, Vehicle, and Equipment Grant Program (THIVE) Created by the 88th Texas Legislature, the THIVE program funds the replacement or repower of on-road heavy-duty motor vehicles or non-road heavy-duty equipment with hydrogen-powered models, or the purchase of those models. The program will also fund the installation of hydrogen refueling infrastructure. See the THIVE homepage here. 

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Hydrogen at the Federal Level 

 

National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy: 

In March of 2024, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, released the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy. The purpose of this strategy is to guide investments in zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and infrastructure, including hydrogen refueling. The Texas Triangle and several corridors in North Texas are identified as key hubs in phase 1 of the strategy, beginning in 2024. See announcement and full strategy here. 

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U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap:  

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In June of 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program released the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap to lay out a strategic framework for achieving large-scale hydrogen production. Read the strategy and roadmap and see past webinars here.  

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The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy 

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Energy Earthshots Initiative – The US Department of Energy (DOE’s) first Energy Earthshot, Hydrogen Shot, aims to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade (“111”). To read more about this initiative please visit the Hydrogen Shot website. 

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Resources:  

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