| Long-haul trucking is considered one of the hardest activities to decarbonise. Industry experts differ on whether the solution is hydrogen trucks – which are less efficient but have greater range - or battery electric trucks, which will be cheaper to run but need more stops to recharge. It’s a technical issue, but a hotly argued one, even provoking a spat between Bill Gates and Elon Musk on X. So far Europe is betting on both horses. The EU’s Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation, agreed in March 2023, mandates the parallel development of pan-European hydrogen and electric charging networks, to accommodate both types of trucks. But recent comments by TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné may just give pause for thought. TotalEnergies has been one of Europe’s most bullish and vocal supporters of hydrogen trucks. Together with Air Liquide, they established a joint venture with the objective of establishing 100 hydrogen refuelling stations by the end of the decade. But speaking about TotalEnergie’s plans at a French Senate hearing on 29 April, Pouyanné admitted that “I’m not sure we were completely right” and acknowledged that batteries would probably win out for long-haul trucking. His arguments will be familiar to hydrogen sceptics. | 