Decarbonized heavy-duty transport: Air Liquide deploys its first hydrogen trucks in the Netherlands

[The energy transition is not proclaimed, it is driven.]

This project is already taking a few years in preparation. Now we are at the phase that we are going to start.

[Air Liquide with trusted partner Schenk Tanktransport, is quietly changing the rules, deploying its first heavy-duty hydrogen-powered trucks to deliver hydrogen to customers in the greater Rotterdam area.]

It's a bit the best of both worlds for Schenk and Air Liquide.

We are not only providing solutions to decarbonize industry, but we are also using those very same solutions to decarbonize our supply chain.

[A bold step toward low-carbon heavy-duty mobility.]

Matthijs COOLS, Category Manager, Air Liquide: 

Through Air Liquide's ADVANCE programme the goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050. That includes our scope three emissions. Schenk has exactly the same goal, so it was a logical partner for us to do this pilot.

Hans MULDER, Group Technology & Procurement Director, Schenk Tanktransport: 

Schenk Tanktransport is a mission critical bulk transporter. Together with our customers, we strive for zero emissions by 2050. We think as a company that green hydrogen will be part of the future solutions.

Axelle ALBOT, Project Manager, Air Liquide: 

The biggest challenge to introduce those two trucks into the operations

was to ensure that the safety standards of Air Liquide and the reliability we need for our customers are still the same as with the diesel trucks.

Matthijs COOLS: 

We had to do a lot of safety assessments. We had to do a lot of logistical simulations. We had to convince a bit of everyone that it can work as well.

Hans MULDER: 

We do think that hydrogen is a viable option to operate our customers' semi-trailers. The refueling time is much lower compared to other zero emission vehicles. The vehicles have lower weight and that helps us a lot,

increasing the payload even if we have zero emission vehicles.

Gerard VAN DE GROEP, Driver, Schenk Tanktransport: 

My experience driving this truck is that the sound is quite pleasant, and that it is very enjoyable and smooth to drive. You simply notice that there is a lot of power in it. It is a truly enjoyable truck to drive.

Sophie BLANCHART, Driver, Schenk Tanktransport: 

The truck is very impressive. You can feel it's powerful and heavy, but the drive is very light and smooth, and manoeuvring is much easier.

Gerard VAN DE GROEP: 

Refuelling a hydrogen truck is not very difficult. It works essentially the same as a diesel truck.

Sophie BLANCHART: 

I think it already has a remarkable range, large enough to get through a full day without worrying too much about filling stations.

Saša MARINIĆ, Business Development Manager Benelux, TEAL Mobility: 

We are at the TEAL Mobility station in Roosendaal. It is located along the highway which connects the Netherlands and Belgium and it is of very high importance for this fleet that will be passing from Lillo and bring different gaseous products from Air Liquide to the rest of the Netherlands and will be passing this station daily.

Axelle ALBOT: 

This SWiM scheme was key to get this project on track. We took advantage of both, the trucks subsidies and the hydrogen refueling station subsidies. And so in this way, we are both loading the stations and reducing the cost for our operations.

Saša MARINIĆ: 

The ecosystem approach organized by the Dutch government is really important for us. As the new technologies come on the market, we need to keep our stations also up to date and hence keep developing and investing in our existing assets to make it suitable for the future trucks as well.

Axelle ALBOT: 

This initiative will help scaling up the market because we are showing the industry the safety and the reliability of the truck.

Matthijs COOLS: 

I think it's the beginning of something. On the one hand, we have the proven technology that is the internal combustion engine, and on the other hand, we have the carbon-free fuel, which is hydrogen. And hopefully we can decarbonize our entire hydrogen supply chain in the Benelux.