National and global greenhouse gas emission reduction goals will require aggressive decarbonization of transportation.   Hydrogen generated from clean electricity sources can be used as sustainable fuel to decarbonize transportation.  The DOE selected the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) as one of seven regional hydrogen hubs to receive $1 billion of funding (approximate funding level of each hub).  The MachH2 hub includes deployment and demonstration projects in southeast Michigan focused on clean hydrogen production and transportation end use applications. 

The project will evaluate scenarios for all stages of the hydrogen ecosystem including renewable electricity generation and electrolysis (splitting water into hydrogen), hydrogen storage, distribution and end-use transportation applications including buses and heavy duty trucks.  Electrification can be difficult for medium and heavy-duty vehicles that require long routes and/or heavy loads.  There is a large movement of freight across the US and Canadian border.  Hydrogen transportation can advance environmental justice by replacing vehicles, especially medium and heavy-duty trucks that have significant air pollutant emissions, with zero tailpipe-emissions FCEVs. The replacement of diesel trucks with FCEVs can be particularly beneficial for communities near roads, highways and freight transport corridors.