New Project: Strategic Collaboration Between Sweden and California for Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Transport
Through the new SENITH project, a platform for knowledge exchange between leading research environments and industrial actors in Sweden and the United States is established. The focus is on identifying the necessary conditions for a successful introduction of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles.
The SENITH project (Sharing Experiences to Navigate the Introduction of Trucks using Hydrogen) is a strategic collaboration between Chalmers University of Technology and the University of California, Davis. The objective is to connect academia, industry, and public agencies in Sweden and California to accelerate the transition to heavy-duty hydrogen transport.
Knowledge Exchange as a Driver for Innovation
California has an established history of utilizing hydrogen for light-duty vehicles and buses. Through the ARCHES initiative over 400 actors joined forces in the ARCHES “hydrogen hub”, aiming to deploy 5000 hydrogen trucks by 2030. However, due to the removal of federal funding, the project is now being renegotiated. Other initiatives include an ongoing demonstration in the Port of Oakland—where 30 heavy-duty hydrogen trucks are currently operational.
Sweden, in turn, holds a strong position through vehicle manufacturers Volvo Group and Scania, alongside a growing infrastructure of refueling stations. With the upcoming system demonstration project Hydrogen Logistics (HyLo) expected to launch in 2026, Sweden is in an expansive phase where international collaboration becomes essential.
"The project takes advantage of my separately funded stay as a visiting researcher at UC Davis. It allows us to expand the reach of our work, building a stronger foundation for continuing collaboration between actors across the Atlantic."
– Joel Löfving, Project Manager & Doctoral Student, Transport, Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology.
From Isolated Projects to Joint Strategies
A central challenge in the transition is coordinating the many, often isolated, R&D activities currently underway. SENITH addresses this by bringing together actors from across the entire value chain to share knowledge regarding past experiences and future needs. By structuring these learnings, joint strategies and partnerships can be formed, laying the groundwork for long-term collaborations between the U.S. and the EU.
During the recent SENITH Hydrogen Truck Workshop in Davis, California, some of the participants went for a study visit to see a hydrogen-powered fuel cell shunting locomotive operating off-grid outside of Sacramento, California.
Intended Project Outcomes
The work within SENITH is divided into three primary tracks to ensure concrete benefits for the innovation ecosystem:
- Inventory: Mapping current status, strategies, and past experiences in both regions.
- Framework Analysis: Increasing the understanding of which policies, business models, and research methods (such as computer modeling) are required to successfully introduce hydrogen vehicles and refueling stations
- Network Building: Establishing broader collaborations between involved actors to facilitate future innovation and partnerships that address identified systemic barriers.
Through SENITH, the ties between Swedish and American research networks are strengthened.
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