Paving the way for the hydrogen highway

Experts at SAE WCX 2022 look beyond EVs to other systems that can garner net-zero capabilities.

With the majority of public debate centering around the internal combustion engine (ICE)-to-EV transition, the engineering community continues to explore alternative forms of E-propulsion. The 2022 SAE WCX Leadership Summit panel “The Hydrogen Highway” gathered multiple H₂ experts to assess hydrogen's potential role across all vehicle segments.

Moderated remotely by Peter Devlin, the technology development and intergovernmental coordination manager for the U.S. Dept. of Energy's (DOE) fuel cell technologies office (FCTO), the session also was joined virtually by Joanna Richart, head of hydrogen business at Ricardo. On site for the panel was: Jacquelyn Birdsall, senior engineering manager of the Fuel Cell Integration Group at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development; Wayne Eckerle, VP of solid oxide and advanced exploratory technologies for the New Power Business at Cummins Inc.; and Ryan Harty, senior manager of Honda's CASE & Energy Business Development division.