Rutgers will deploy six green hydrogen fuel cell-powered heavy-duty trucks at Port Newark
The Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) has received $13 million to test trucks that use hydrogen fuel cells as part of a state-funded project to develop cleaner technology for New Jersey's critical infrastructure and operations.
The trucks will operate at Port Newark, the principal container ship facility for goods entering and leaving the Northeastern United States run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The research, which aims to position New Jersey as a hub for advanced transportation technologies, is being conducted as part of a pilot funded by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).
Rutgers will manage the project and lead the research, testing the efficiency of the new technology and how it can be used to boost the state's economy. Rutgers CAIT will work with experts from the university's School of Engineering and the Office for Research to identify and document opportunities to build on the successes and lessons learned from this pilot.
"It's about making New Jersey a research and development and workforce training hub for hydrogen-powered transportation," said Ali Maher, CAIT director and principal investigator of the pilot project. "We're demonstrating how hydrogen can be integrated into real-world transportation and logistics operations, and we will investigate its potential to drive down costs, improve performance, and support long-term economic growth. This type of applied research is critical to proving the use cases of innovative technology and paving the way for its implementation."
The trucks will transport shipping containers from the port to warehouses, rail yards and the next leg of the longer freight journey. Currently, this short-distance transport of goods is conducted by fuel-intensive, combustion engine trucks that are typically single-purpose, serving the same short distance for their useful life.
Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity using hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water and heat as byproducts, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In the trucking industry, this technology can support long driving ranges and quick refueling, and because hydrogen can be made from domestic resources, also offers potential benefits for energy security and economic development.
The project will proceed in phases, beginning with procurement of the trucks and hydrogen supply and the design of the fueling site.
Truck deployment and testing are expected to start in the beginning of 2026.
Other partners on the project include the Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG), the nonprofit Center for Transportation and the Environment, Hyundai Motor Company, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The center is a subcontractor to Rutgers CAIT on this project and are experts in the deployment of hydrogen vehicles.
"Under Governor Murphy's leadership, New Jersey continues to make impactful investments into proven clean energy technologies like hydrogen, promoting innovation, creating jobs, and improving quality of life for New Jerseyans," said Tim Sullivan, chief executive officer of the NJEDA. "With support from the NJEDA, this pilot project will leverage expertise from academia, government, and the private sector to explore the potential of hydrogen-powered trucks, keeping New Jersey on the forefront of innovation and strengthening our long-term economic competitiveness."
This alignment of priorities highlights how public agencies and state leadership are working in tandem to accelerate the transition to cleaner technologies.
"This pilot is another step in the Port Authority's broader effort to look at every viable pathway toward a cleaner future for our critical infrastructure and operations," said Christopher Diamond, director of the Office of Sustainability at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. "Our ambitious commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 brings with it a responsibility to help chart the course toward greater sustainability across our vast network, including the East Coast's busiest seaport. We're eager to take advantage of the region's innovative spirit to examine emerging technology and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future."
PSEG will manage the fueling operations of the six hydrogen-powered trucks.
"PSEG's expertise in hydrogen across industrial settings well positions us to partner in this initiative at Port Newark," said Jeffrey Stokes, senior director of renewables engineering and technical support at PSEG. "We're proud to bring that experience to the forefront as we support truck fueling operations for the project. PSEG aims to drive reliable energy infrastructure while also supporting the state's efforts to drive economic development."
Rutgers researchers will help collect service data on existing operations to establish key performance indicators and benchmarks for the hydrogen trucks.
After daily truck service begins, the project team will collect, analyze, and report on performance indicators for 12 months. At the end of the pilot, the team will develop a comprehensive dataset and snapshot of the benefits and challenges associated with green hydrogen-powered drayage trucks, including shifts in fuel consumption rates, maintenance costs and port utilization.
The pilot project also will give crucial insights into obstacles that the transportation industry may have to overcome to effectively implement, maintain and operate green hydrogen-powered vehicles.
"At Rutgers we see these challenges as opportunities to grow into a 21-century research and development leader," said Michael Zwick, senior vice president for research at Rutgers University. "Now is an essential time to invest in transformative technologies and innovative thinking that can position New Jersey and the U.S. ahead of the curve for years to come. We look forward to working together with the NJEDA and our project partners on this important hydrogen initiative."
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