Life cycle assessment of construction and driving operation of a hydrogen-powered truck built from a used diesel truck

One option to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles is switching to hydrogen as a fuel, which is converted in drive trains powered by fuel cells. In addition to the production of new hydrogen trucks, it is also possible to convert used diesel-powered trucks to hydrogen-powered vehicles. This paper aims to evaluate the environmental impact of a heavy-duty truck converted from diesel propulsion to a hydrogen fuel cell drive regarding life-cycle GHG emissions and mineral resource scarcity (MRS). This life cycle assessment focuses on the construction and end-of-life phases of the vehicle (first part) and on the entire life cycle, including the use phase (second part). The largest share of GHG emissions for the hydrogen-powered truck (first part) originates from the tank system and the chassis, specifically due to the materials reinforced plastics, steel, and aluminum. The fuel cell system is responsible for half of the MRS, mainly due to the used platinum, which, as well as steel, accounts for about one-third of the MRS. The hydrogen supply path is the most crucial factor determining the overall GHG emissions (second part). To reduce GHG emissions compared to a conventional diesel-driven truck, the share of renewable energy within the power mix has to be at least 61 %. The MRS increases with an increasing share of renewable energy within the power mix. To reduce GHG emission of a converted hydrogen-powered truck, the use of reinforced plastics and platinum should be minimized, thus contributing to more efficient use of mineral resources.