Todd Anderson, Chief Technology Officer, PHINIA, Auburn Hills, Michigan (U.S.)
Decarbonizing mobility—whether on-road or offroad—is one of the defining industrial and environmental challenges of our time. It is also one of the most complex. Heavy-duty trucks hauling freight across continents, construction machinery operating in remote environments and agricultural vehicles running around the clock demand power, range and resilience that today’s battery-electric solutions struggle to deliver.
Against this backdrop, alternative fuels have emerged as a powerful and versatile pathway toward cleaner mobility. This includes hydrogen (H2). While H2 is not a single solution, it does fill critical gaps where electrification alone falls short, offering high energy density, strong engine performance and rapid refueling for commercial and industrial applications.
Realizing H2’s full potential depends on more than simply fuel supply. It requires integrated systems that deliver, manage and optimize H2 across today’s internal combustion-based fleets and infrastructure. The evolution of fuel systems ready for alternative fuel sources will define the pace and practicality of adoption across various use cases. So, how can we accelerate H2’s role in the future mobility landscape?
The commercial case for H2 fuel. H2’s most immediate potential lies in segments where energy density and operational uptime are critical, particularly in light commercial vehicles (LCVs) that cover long distances or require rapid turnaround times. These vehicles often benefit from H2’s fast refueling and high energy density, enabling extended duty cycles that can be challenging for battery-electric alternatives.
H2 offers several clear advantages. Rapid refueling times are comparable to diesel, and the energy-dense fuel is capable of sustaining long routes and engines engineered for high performance under demanding conditions. This combination not only minimizes downtime but also enables LCVs to meet rigorous duty cycles with strong engine performance characteristics while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making H2 a practical and sustainable alternative to conventional fuels.
In off-highway environments—where equipment may operate continuously for longer periods of time—H2 can serve as both a direct fuel for combustion and a power carrier for hybrid or auxiliary systems. The combination of H2-ready engines and advanced fuel systems enables operators to reduce emissions without compromising productivity. This is a step toward sustainability that recognizes the essential nature of these vehicles in modern economies.
H2 as the enabler of internal combustion engine (ICE) optimization. Despite the urgency of decarbonization efforts, the transition to net-zero mobility must be considered within the realities of existing infrastructure, fleets and capital investments. H2’s compatibility with combustion technologies creates a bridge between today’s assets and tomorrow’s alternative fuel ambitions.
H2 internal combustion engines (H2ICEs) are gaining traction as a pragmatic bridge solution between alternative fuels and today’s extensive ICE infrastructure. By utilizing H2 in modified ICE systems, H2ICEs can deliver lower emissions while leveraging existing manufacturing and service ecosystems. In fact, estimates show that H2ICE vehicles produce < 1 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2)/1,000 mi, compared to 272 kg of conventional petrol (gasoline) or diesel engines.1
To make H2 a practical solution, particularly for heavy-industry, fuel delivery must be precise, efficient and safe under high pressures and challenging conditions. Fuel systems should play a central role in this transition.
De-risking H2 investments with innovative fuel systems. Fuel systems are the interface between storage and propulsion, as the component that turns potential energy into kinetic performance. Advanced injectors, pumps, rails and control systems tailored for H2 can be integrated into both new and existing engine platforms. Alternative fuel systems—capable of operating on H2, natural gas or traditional fuels—provide flexibility as the supply and infrastructure for H2 scale up.
H2 introduces unique challenges for ICEs: it burns faster than diesel or gasoline, requires different injection strategies and demands materials capable of handling high-pressure gas with minimal leakage. For fuel cells, system design must ensure purity, control and efficiency in H2 flow.
This is where fuel system innovation becomes critical. Advances in high-pressure injection and hybridized systems are enabling the safe and reliable use of H2 in demanding applications. Rigorous testing completed at the author’s company’s H2 test facility in Blois, France, has demonstrated that H2ICE vehicles can cover > 1,000 km in just 12 hrs, even under challenging weather and temperature conditions.2 This is possible due to the H2’s lower weight, durability, rapid refueling capabilities and consistent reliability, marking a major milestone for high-intensity applications. These attributes position a H2ICE as a key enabler of scalability and long-term performance, surpassing the limitations of conventional fuels and combustion engines.
The development of components that can seamlessly handle both gaseous and liquid fuels also helps de-risk investment for manufacturers and operators by offering adaptability. Fuel systems are, in effect, the enablers of energy transition at the component level, making it possible for H2 to move from concept to a proven solution.
Tackling the collective infrastructure challenge. Even as H2 technology and fuel systems advance, infrastructure remains one of the most significant challenges. H2 production, storage, transport and refueling networks must expand dramatically to make widespread adoption viable. This is where collaboration across the value chain becomes essential.
Fuel system developers, engine manufacturers and H2 suppliers must work together to align standards, scale production and ensure interoperability. The faster we can integrate H2-compatible components into mainstream vehicle architectures, the faster the overall system can mature.
Crucially, these efforts must prioritize scalability and affordability. For H2 to become a meaningful part of the mobility mix, supporting technologies must be manufacturable at scale and maintainable in the field. That means designing fuel systems with durability, simplicity and serviceability in mind—attributes that have always underpinned successful mobility technologies.
Building a carbon-neutral future. Increased focus on alternative fuel systems makes H2 adoption not only feasible but strategically effective, maximizing existing assets to decarbonize at scale. These systems will allow us to make incremental changes today, without waiting for every piece of the puzzle to fall into place. Carbon neutrality is no longer an abstract goal but an achievable reality—through practical changes one vehicle, one fleet and one system at a time.
The future of mobility will be defined by flexibility. H2’s role in the mobility landscape is not to replace every other technology, but to complement them. Alongside electrification, biofuels and synthetic fuels, it forms part of a balanced ecosystem that can support the full diversity of industrial and commercial applications.
Our focus must remain on real-world implementation: on technologies that can be built, deployed and scaled today. The goal is not simply to invent the future, but to make it work. H2, supported by innovative fuel systems, offers us a path to do exactly that—a path toward a sustainable, resilient and truly carbon-neutral mobility landscape. H2T
LITERATURE CITED
Takahashi, M., “Hydrogen internal combustion engines 2025–2045: Applications, technologies, market status and forecasts,” IDTechEx, online: https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-report/hydrogen-internal-combustion-engines/1030
PHINIA, “PHINIA takes a big leap towards sustainable transportation with successful 1,000+ km, 12-hour endurance run,” June 18, 2024, online: https://www.phinia.com/newsroom/news/2024/06/19/phinia-partners-in-groundbreaking-v8-hydrogen-injection-retrofit-jeep-cherokee-project
As Chief Technology Officer of PHINIA, Todd Anderson leads the product engineering function within the organization, representing PHINIA technologies to the marketplace and investors. He joined PHINIA in 2023 from BorgWarner, where he served as Vice President and General Manager for fuel injection systems in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With a fascination for how things work and extensive experience in Tier 1 commercial vehicle and automotive operations, engineering and management, Anderson is passionate about solving complex problems and driving innovation.