Aramco is an energy and chemicals company with oil and gas production as its primary business. The solutions mentioned here are still in the very early stages of development.
Today, the world relies on a vast and growing haulage network to keep moving.
Much of this transportation, from factories to warehouses, distribution centers, and beyond, is carried out by heavy-duty trucks that run on diesel.
In recent years, online shopping has increased this activity, with heavy-duty trucks carrying products to and from fulfillment centers and helping to optimize inventory management.
But with global transportation demand increasing, how can societies manage supply chains and logistical networks while lowering emissions?
That’s why we’re working with innovators across the globe to explore potential solutions.
We’re investing in hydrogen-powered transport…
Hydrogen-powered trucks could be part of the shift to a lower-carbon future. That’s why our investment arm, Aramco Ventures, has collaborated with Hyperview, a company that specializes in driving solutions and artificial intelligence (AI).
…to lower the potential impact of everyday deliveries
This means that entire fleets of delivery trucks in the future could run with no operational emissions. Changing the way we may think about the global logistics sector as a whole.
Moving in the
right direction
Power that delivers
Trucks with fuel-cell energy systems such as hydrogen offer significant curb-weight advantages, mainly due to hydrogen’s high energy-density. In addition, technology innovation is reducing the weight of fuel-cell system powertrains year-on-year.
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Toward zero operational emissions
The hydrogen power supply of Hyperview trucks means they produce zero operational emissions. An onboard battery supports the fuel-cell during acceleration, and this in turn is recharged by the cell, as well as by braking.No external battery charging is usually needed, and hydrogen refueling takes only 15 minutes per truck. These benefits offer significant cost-efficiencies due to reduced vehicle down-times, more flexible scheduling, and a more cost-effective refueling infrastructure. At the same time, Hyperview’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) herald a major advance in road safety.
Most important of all, each Hyperview truck can lower carbon emissions by approximately 188.3 tons per year compared to an equivalent diesel truck.
Let’s take time to understand this calculation.
A 49-ton heavy-duty truck has a typical diesel fuel consumption limit of 35 liters per 100 km.* Let’s assume the truck covers 200,000 km per year and emits 2.69 kg of CO2 per liter of fuel consumed.** That equals 35 liters per 100 km multiplied by 2.69 kg per liter, which comes to 94.15 kg per 100 km of carbon emissions at 200,000km per year. This in turn equates to 188.3 tons of CO2 emissions produced each year by a diesel-fueled heavy-duty truck.
Note: The calculations shown are based on estimates, and actual figures may differ from what is calculated.
Compare this to zero operational emissions for Hyperview’s pioneering vehicles, and it’s possible to see how Hyperview could potentially contribute to helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Solving global challenges
The EU, for example, is actively promoting hydrogen energy development and low-carbon transportation. Its 2019 European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap set out plans to provide 24% of Europe’s total energy needs with hydrogen by 2050, with 30% of hydrogen consumed in transport1. This policy aims to help deliver energy security as well as a modernized haulage infrastructure and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Both the EU and China have also set hydrogen refueling infrastructure targets for the new generation of long-haul trucks. China plans to build 1,000 refueling stations by 2025 and 5,000 by 2035, while the EU hydrogen network is projected to reach 39,700km by 20402.
Meanwhile, Hyperview solutions have attracted attention from leading global automotive manufacturers, showing that our investment may drive industry standards and open up opportunities for the future.
Investing in the future
Aramco has recently more than doubled the capital allotted to Aramco Ventures, increasing its total investment capabilities from $3 billion to $7 billion between 2024 and 2027.
The decision reflects the growing significance of Aramco’s venture capital program in enabling the development of disruptive new technologies, creating diversification opportunities for Aramco, and paving the way for collaborations with innovative start-ups.
Delivering lower greenhouse-gas emissions logistics, together
Our investment in Hyperview is not a short-term endeavor. We recognize that global-scale, collaborative energy solutions need time and steadfast leadership to inspire new markets, infrastructure, policies, and regulations. Yet we already see a virtuous circle in the interactions between R&D investment, technological innovation, and mobility advances.Hydrogen prices are falling as production technologies improve. We are at the forefront of this revolution, producing “blue hydrogen” along with new storage techniques and pioneering the world’s first blue ammonia shipment.
We aim to continue to play a key role in new technological developments, whether as innovator, investor, or collaborator.
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* See https://www.efchina.org/Reports-zh/report-20170918-2-zh
**See https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references. We have converted the unit from gallons to liters.
1 Hydrogen Roadmap Europe, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking, 2019
2 The clean hydrogen opportunity for hydrocarbon-rich countries, McKinsey & Company, 2022