Jon Summers is the Motoring Historian. He was a company car thrashing technology sales rep that turned into a fairly inept sports bike rider. On his show he gets together with various co-hosts to talk about new and old cars, driving, motorbikes, motor racing, motoring travel.
In this episode, Jon and his son Oliver delve into the world of hydrogen trucks during a visit to the Port of Oakland. They attend a presentation at a hydrogen fueling station, learning about the environmental benefits and challenges of hydrogen technology over traditional diesel and battery-electric trucks. Jon and Oliver explore the technical aspects of hydrogen refueling and compare Hyundai and Nikola trucks, discussing their design and potential in the trucking industry. The insights from various experts highlight the importance of hydrogen in achieving zero-emission goals.
Jerry Reed - East Bound and DownJ & Son attend the opening of the world’s first big rig hydrogen station, with associated government and electric truck razzamatazzThe Press Conference and a digression on nomenclatureWhat colour is “pickle”? An existential discussionThe First Element dudeThe Carb LadyThe Hyundai dude (with the waistcoat that rode up)A Good Question from the LA Times; how clean is the wrap around technology?The Cummins rep and people who leave the rock show before the encore is overJ’s digression on getting stuck in muddy car parks at Silverstone, and sleeping in the company VectraO’s digression on his favorite car - Texaco/Havoline Porsche 962 and Joe’s Soft Serve“The Science Bit”, which J didn’t understand “A dude with a beard and no hair…..and a bunch of pipes in a shipping container”O operates the Actual Gas Pump for HydrogenO mocks his father’s skills with PodcastleTrue ZeroHyundaiNikola - which requires a different pump attachment to “hydrogen up”J chat’s with Hyundai rep: “why now?” Hydrogen is not competing with Diesel, rather with BEVs for last mile/fixed routes, because - 400-500 miles range (diesel trucks might do 800/day)Better PayloadFaster refuelingBetter vs. natural disastersThe hydrogen station as a single point of failure; may work for some fleet applications, but not right for over the road owner driver truckersVisual bait and switch - looks like a cabover sleeper truck, but actually what looks like the sleeper hides the hydrogen tanks/. Which “look like missiles”.“If California is to meet it’s zero emissions goal in 2046, hydrogen must be part of the solution”So how fully baked is this? J was less convinced after a drive around the Port of Oakland and chatting with real truckersO reviews the two trucks; Nikola seemed far more wholistic, next generational design, while the Hyundai felt more of the parts bin special it is.The game changer of one pedal driving; O feels he could drive it, J feels we are very close to autonomyThe challenge is clearly around the delivery of hydrogen, not the trucksJ feels soon the smell and noise of diesel will soon be like cigarette smoke in bars - recently gone, and already forgottenRainbow - Man On The Silver Mountain===== (Oo---x---oO) =====
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