Why Waste Management Companies Choose Hydrogen

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Here’s Why Waste Management Companies Choose Hydrogen Fuel for their Fleets

One necessity of modern civilization is garbage collection.  Most people don’t think much about it beyond remembering what day their garbage is picked up.  It’s estimated that our 324 million Americans generate about 700,000 tons of waste daily.  It takes about 60,000 trucks to haul all that garbage away.  Traditionally, those trucks have been fueled by diesel, and while they haul off stinky trash, they leave a not-so-desired aromatic exhaust smell behind.  Of course, 60,000 trucksWhy Waste Management Companies Choose Hydrogen consume a significant amount of diesel fuel–a non-renewable substance we’re trying to conserve.

Today, many municipalities are transitioning their refuse collection vehicle (RCV) fleets to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.  It makes sense for these cities to promote their vision of clean air and water by using vehicles that emit no harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.  Drivers enjoy driving hydrogen fuel cell vehicles more because they are cleaner–there’s no soot, no stink, and much less engine noise.

Waste management companies choose hydrogen fuel to enjoy these benefits:

  1. Much like conventionally fueled counterparts, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles exhibit consistent power.  They don’t become weaker as the battery drains.
  2. The amount of hydrogen fuel pressurized in the tank allows them to drive extensively between fill-ups.  This is important for fleets that have extensive routes to handle.
  3. Refueling is quick and easy.  It takes about the same amount of time to fill up a tank with hydrogen fuel as it does with diesel fuel.
  4. They are powered for big payloads.  A hydrogen fuel cell RCV has roughly the same payload as a diesel RCV.

The challenge for hydrogen fuel cell RCV fleet is accessibility to fuel.  Waste management companies often build and operate their own fueling stations or partner with other organizations to share card-lock style stations.  Most of those rely upon deliveries of fuel that the fleet company must then store at the station, and if deliveries are delayed, service quality suffers.

PowerTap Hydrogen is a Unique Solution for On-Time Fueling Needs

The Andretti Group and PowerTap Hydrogen make producing fuel on-site easy and efficient.  With about 1,000 square feet of space, gas station owners can now generate their fuel to meet customer demand with simple access to city water, natural gas, and electricity.  There are no worries about delayed shipments, running out of fuel, or having too much inventory.

PowerTap saves money, too.  The average cost of production for 1 kilogram of hydrogen fuel produced onsite with electrolysis (NEL) costs $11.15.  To have that same kilogram of fuel shipped in via a delivery service costs $11.48.  PowerTap, however, uses onsite steam methane reformation (SMR) technology to produce that same kilogram of fuel for only $3.50.

It’s not just utility companies and bus transportation that’s moving to hydrogen fuel.  So are Walmart, Amazon, UPS, Fed Ex, and the US Postal Service.  Along with everyday consumers, all of these companies need a reliable fuel source to power their fleets.  Why shouldn’t that be you?

Contact the Andretti Group today to learn how easy it is to get started.