Hidrogênio verde para uso veicular em caminhões: estado da técnica, perspectivas e desafios

Abstract

Growing environmental demands and the need to reduce emissions from road transport have increased interest in green hydrogen as a strategic alternative for decarbonizing heavy duty vehicles. This study analyzes the global and national landscape of adopting this technology in trucks, considering the state of the art, market prospects, and the economic, logistical, and institutional challenges that affect its feasibility. The research compiles evidence on the development of technologies applied to heavy transport, the progress of fuel cells, the comparison between different energy matrices, and the evolution of public policies aimed at the energy transition. The results show that, although significant advances have been made in leading countries supported by expanded targets, incentives, and pilot projects, the diffusion of green hydrogen still faces important barriers, such as high production and operating costs, limited infrastructure, logistical challenges for refueling, and low regulatory maturity, especially in Brazil. The analysis also indicates that the country holds strong competitive potential due to its renewable energy base but lacks institutional integration and coordinated investments to convert this potential into operational capacity. It is concluded that green hydrogen represents a promising solution for the trucking sector, particularly for long distance operations, provided it is accompanied by consistent policies, continued technological development, and market strategies that reduce costs and expand infrastructure. This study contributes by offering a critical synthesis of the current stage of the technology, identifying research gaps, and providing relevant insights for strategic decision making by managers, policymakers, and companies in the transport sector.