There’s a lot of talk about hydrogen’s potential. But transportation costs represent a big challenge

Published

2 years ago

July 4, 2023

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Hydrogen storage tanks in Spain in May 2022. Hydrogen has a diverse range of applications and can be deployed in a wide range of industries.

Angel Garcia | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The buzz around hydrogen has gotten increasingly loud in the past few years — many see it as an important tool in reducing the environmental footprint of heavy industry and helping economies hit net-zero goals.

The green hydrogen sector, which is centered on producing it using renewable sources of energy like wind and solar, has drawn particular interest and boasts some high-profile backers.

They include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who in 2022 called it “one of the most important technologies for a climate-neutral world” and “the key to decarbonizing our economies.”

In the world of business, multinationals from Iberdrola to Siemens Energy are also looking to make plays in green hydrogen.

But while there’s a huge amount of excitement about the potential of hydrogen — the International Energy Agency describes it as a “versatile energy carrier” — there are also undoubted challenges.

For a start, the vast majority of hydrogen production is still based on fossil fuels, not renewables — a fact clearly at odds with net-zero goals.

And when it comes to green hydrogen specifically, production costs are a significant issue, and will need to be reduced in the years ahead.

Transporting hydrogen from production sites to users is another equally important factor to consider.

Location important

In relation to the logistics surrounding green hydrogen in particular, one area that will need attention is the location of production facilities.

Often, these are earmarked for areas where sources of renewable energy are abundant — such as Australia, North Africa and the Middle East — but many miles away from where the hydrogen will actually be used.

Wood Mackenzie’s Douglas referenced transportation options when reflecting on the investment horizon for the next 10 years.

“You can obviously pipe it, but you probably need a dedicated pipeline,” he said, noting that this would likely need to be a new build and close to end-users.

The only other realistic option in this investment horizon, he said, relates to exporting the hydrogen as ammonia.

“You produce the hydrogen, the green hydrogen, and then you would synthesize it into ammonia with nitrogen,” he said.

The shipping of ammonia was, Douglas noted, “a pretty established technology and industry — there’s already a bunch of receiving ports in place.”

This ammonia could then be sold directly to end users, such as fertilizer producers.

An alternative option would be to “crack the ammonia back into hydrogen,” although this would not be without its own issues.

“As soon as you start ‘cracking’ back into hydrogen use, you start to incur some … quite big energy losses,” Douglas said.

Efficient delivery system needed

In a statement sent to CNBC, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, the CEO of industry association Hydrogen Europe, was bullish about the prospects for green hydrogen.

He said it would “become a global commodity,” before stressing the importance of having “an efficient delivery system.”

Chatzimarkakis also highlighted the need for a certification program, because “green hydrogen needs to prove that it is sourced from renewable energy.”

Despite some clearly big obstacles, partnerships and programs related to the supply and distribution of green hydrogen are starting to take shape.

Earlier this year, for example, Greenergy and Octopus Hydrogen — the latter is part of the Octopus Energy Group — announced they had started a “green hydrogen delivery partnership.”

Elsewhere, German firm Enertrag says it’s been “operating a tanker and transport trailer to deliver large quantities of green hydrogen to customers” since 2021.

And back in 2022, Madrid-headquartered energy firm Cepsa said it would work with the Port of Rotterdam to develop “the first green hydrogen corridor between southern and northern Europe.”

Sticking point

Though the technology and knowledge for hydrogen production and delivery are there, one sticking point remains.

“The industry knows how to transport hydrogen,” Wood Mackenzie’s Douglas said, adding that the energy and chemicals sectors have been transporting it for “a long time — it’s not new, it’s just expensive.”

Expanding on his point, Douglas said getting production costs down is key. The lower those are, the more manageable transportation costs would become.

“I’m not sure if there’s any sort of magical … cost reduction technology that’s going to come into the transportation side of the equation,” he added.

“We’re not suddenly going to find … a better material to ship hydrogen through,” he said.

“If you’re liquefying it, you have to get it very cold, and that’s just expensive,” he went on to add. “If you’re turning it into ammonia, there’s a cost in there, and then there’s a bunch of challenges around toxicity.”

“They know how to do all of these things,” he went on to conclude. “It still just comes down to cost.”

Environment

Ford slashes F-150 Lightning prices by up to $4,000 and bumps up the range

Published

3 hours ago

October 14, 2025

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Ford slashes F-150 Lightning prices by up to ,000 and bumps up the range

Ford is cutting prices on the electric pickup by up to $4,000 to offset the loss of the federal EV tax credit. The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning now offers more driving range at a lower price.

2026 Ford F-150 Lightning prices and range by trim

After the Tesla Cybertruck took the title as America’s best-selling electric pickup last year, the Ford F-150 Lightning is back on top in 2025.

Ford sold over 10,000 Lightnings in the third quarter, nearly double the roughly 5,400 Tesla Cybertrucks sold. Through September, Ford has sold over 23,000 electric pickups. According to Cox Automotive, Tesla has only sold 16,097 Cybertrucks this year, 38% fewer than it did during the same period in 2024.

After the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expired at the end of September, many automakers, including Ford, are bracing for less demand.

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To keep the momentum going, Ford is reducing prices for the 2026 F-150 Lightning by up to $4,000. Company spokesperson Martin Günsberg confirmed with Electrek that Ford is cutting prices on the flash trim by $4,000 and the Lariat by $2,000.

Ford-2026-F-150-Lightning-prices — The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX (Source: Ford)

Ford introduced a new base STX model that replaces the XLT for 2026. The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX starts at $63,345, the same as the 2025 STX, but it delivers an extra 50 miles of driving range.

A 123 kW extended range battery powers the STX, providing an EPA estimated 290 miles of range. In comparison, the XLT delivered 240 miles of range from a 98 kWh battery.

Ford-F-150-Lightning-STX-interior — The interior of the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX (Source: Ford)

Ford also raided the F-150 parts bin to add a few off-road goodies like running boards from the Tremor, new wheels, and more.

The 2026 F-150 Lightning Flash will start at $65,995, down from $69,995. Meanwhile, the 2026 Lariat and Platinum trims will be priced from $74,995 and $84,995.

Ford F-150 Lightning trim	2025 Starting Price	2026 Starting Price	Range (EPA-est miles)
XLT	$63,345	N/A	240
STX	N/A	$63,345	290
Flash	$69,995	$65,995	320
Lariat	$76,995	$74,995	320
Platinum	$84,995	$84,995	300

2025 and 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning prices and range by trim (excluding destination fee)

Although Ford decided not to move forward with plans for a program to extend the $7,500 EV tax credit, the company is still offering significant incentives to compensate for the loss of it.

The 2025 Ford F-150 Lighting STX is eligible for up to $11,500 in savings in California and other ZEV states. Ford is offering a $9,000 lease cash bonus and an additional $2,000 Ford Power Promise cash bonus. Alternatively, Ford is offering 0% APR financing for 72 months plus an extra $2,000 Power Promise bonus nationwide.

With the 2026 Lightning arriving, Ford is offering big savings on 2025 models. The 2025 F-150 Lightning XLT is currently listed for lease as low as $279 per month in California. You can use our link to find offers on the Ford F-150 Lightning near you (trusted affiliate link).

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Environment

US, Europe, and China drive global EV boom to record highs

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4 hours ago

October 14, 2025

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US, Europe, and China drive global EV boom to record highs

Global EV sales passed the 2 million mark for the first time in September 2025, according to new data from EV research house Rho Motion – here’s how it breaks down.

A record-breaking September

Rho Motion’s data shows that 2.1 million EVs were sold worldwide in September, the highest monthly total ever recorded. The US, UK, South Korea, and China all hit major milestones, with tax credit deadlines, new registration cycles, and local incentives fueling the global boom.

“Global EV sales topped 2 million units in a single month for the first time, driven by record-breaking demand across major markets,” said Rho Motion’s data manager Charles Lester. “The US surged ahead as buyers raced to claim expiring tax credits, the UK hit new highs on the back of fresh registration plates and the Electric Car Grant, and South Korea set records thanks to Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, and rising BYD imports. Year to date, EV sales have reached 14.7 million – up 26%.”

EV sales by the numbers YTD (Jan–Sept 2025)

Global: 14.7 million (+26%)
China: 9.0 million (+24%)
Europe: 3.0 million (+32%)
North America: 1.5 million (+11%)
Rest of World: 1.2 million (+48%)

Europe surges on incentives

Europe had a record-breaking month with 427,000 EVs sold, up 36% year-over-year and 55% from August. The UK led the charge with record demand tied to the launch of new license plates and the government’s Electric Car Grant, introduced in July. BEV sales rose 30% year-over-year, while PHEVs jumped nearly 60%.

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Germany’s EV market is expected to get another boost in 2026 after the government approved a new €3 billion ($3.5 billion) incentive package targeting low- and middle-income households. It replaces the subsidy scheme that expired in December 2023. Italy and Spain also continue to see strong growth, with sales up two-thirds and more than double, respectively, compared to 2024.

US buyers rushed to beat tax credit deadlines

In North America, EV sales soared 66% year-over-year in September as US consumers scrambled to take advantage of federal incentives before they expired on September 30. The tax credits supported both purchases and leases.

But Rho Motion expects Q4 2025 demand to dip sharply as those credits disappear. Some automakers are already taking defensive steps: Hyundai has cut prices, while Mercedes-Benz has paused production of four EV models. GM has suspended a production shift at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant, and Volkswagen is stopping ID.4 production in Tennessee in October. Nissan has gone further, scrapping its plans to manufacture EVs in the US altogether.

China is the world’s EV powerhouse

China still dominates the global EV market, selling 1.3 million EVs in September, a record-breaking month powered by strong BEV demand. Pure-electric sales rose 28% year-over-year to 800,000 units, while PHEVs and range-extended EVs dipped by 2% to 470,000.

China has sold nearly 9 million EVs YTD, up 24% from 2024, cementing its position as the world’s largest and most mature EV market.

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Environment

First-ever Jeep extended range EV, Mazda gets in the price war, and antique hybrids

Published

4 hours ago

October 14, 2025

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First-ever Jeep extended range EV, Mazda gets in the price war, and antique hybrids

On today’s hyped up hybrid episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the first extended range electric Jeep in North America – the 500-mile new Grand Wagoneer PLUS news that Mazda is getting into the plug-in price war, and a whole lot more.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.

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