Hydrogen isn’t waiting for someday. It’s already moving freight, carrying riders through winter, and powering the equipment that keeps cities running. We sit down with Christa Harrison of BNG Clean Fuel Corporation to unpack where hydrogen works now, what’s changing fast, and how fleets can navigate costs, infrastructure, and performance with clear eyes.
We start with the real-world signals: 50,000 hydrogen forklifts across the U.S., growing fleets of fuel cell buses, and early heavy-duty deployments that keep HVAC humming in subfreezing temps. Christa explains why transit agencies in cold regions are leaning into hydrogen for reliability, how delivery and utility trucks benefit from fast refueling and strong auxiliary power, and why medium-duty routes may be the next big wave. We compare fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engines, dig into tri-fuel heavy engines, and explore how drivers report diesel-like torque without the winter range penalty.
Hydrogen supply is bigger than many realize. With 10 million metric tons used annually in U.S. industry, the production know-how and safety playbooks already exist. The pivot for transport is about logistics: using modular, above-ground stations, embracing behind-the-fence fueling for predictable fleets, and adding onsite generation to avoid long-haul trucking and boil-off. Christa breaks down unit pitfalls that skew analysis, the total value equation beyond pump price, and the practical path from pilot to scale.
Financing and policy round out the roadmap. Investors want credible milestones, offtake commitments, and conservative cash plans. Grants and tax credits help, but resilient models can’t depend on them. We touch on natural hydrogen exploration, retrofit opportunities that extend vehicle life, and how Detroit’s engineering ecosystem accelerates prototyping and partnerships. If you’re evaluating options for buses, Class 5–8 trucks, or mixed municipal fleets, this conversation gives you a grounded framework to decide where hydrogen slots into your energy toolkit.
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