Global brewery giant and Budweiser brand owner Anheuser Busch has ordered almost 800 hydrogen powered ‘fuel cell electric’ semi-trucks from the Nikola Motor Company, and these are set to hit the road from 2020.

Anheuser Busch plan to convert their entire long-haul fleet to renewable power by 2025.
“At Anheuser-Busch we’re continuously searching for ways to improve sustainability across our entire value chain and drive our industry forward,” said chief executive Michel Doukeris.

“The transport industry is one that is ripe for innovative solutions and Nikola is leading the way with hydrogen-electric, zero-emission capabilities. We are very excited by the possibilities our partnership with them can offer.”

According to the truck manufacturer Nikola, the fuel cell trucks should be able to travel between 500-1200 miles between refuelling and be refilled within 20 minutes.

“Hydrogen-electric technology is the future of logistics and we’re proud to be leading the way,” said Nikola chief executive Trevor Milton.

“Anheuser-Busch has a long history of investing in progressive, sustainable technology and we are excited to partner with them to bring the largest hydrogen network in the world to the USA. By 2028, we anticipate having over 700 hydrogen stations across the USA and Canada. With nearly $9 billion in pre-order reservations, we are building to order, not speculation, and are very excited for what’s to come.”

Fuel cells are essentially liquid batteries with the electrical energy stored in the hydrogen that releases the energy as it combines with oxygen to produce water. Extraction isn’t always ‘clean’, with much of the world’s hydrogen production coming from oil. The technology is far less efficient than batteries in the present day, though it can produce the ranges that battery trucks can’t hope to reach. It is generally accepted that in logistics, fuel cell will be for longer haul vehicles while batteries will be for shorter haul.