• We developed a discrete event simulator for freight traffic simulation that uses a) geographic data inputs on road network structure and attributes such as average speed, length; b) truck parameters such as mileage, total fuel capacity, payload capacity etc.; c) potential locations for hydrogen refueling stations, and d) time tables and planned itineraries for freight trucks
• The workflow of the platform simulates a route planner that computes fastest routes along the highway network for a given itinerary taking into account the refueling constraints

• Identify the best sites for hydrogen infrastructure to maximize performance of relevant metrics, e.g. average wait times at refueling stations and associated economic impact and total daily amount of hydrogen required
• Time taken for the fleet to complete itineraries
• Calculate CO2, NOx, PM2 reductions and assess the resulting health benefits
• Compare hydrogen fueled vs battery electric transportation
• Assess the impact of hydrogen infrastructure on the electricity grid by estimating additional loads

This research develops a roadmap for hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty trucking in Illinois using a discrete event simulation framework. By modeling key components of the hydrogen ecosystem—including transportation corridors, refueling stations, logistics hubs, and the electricity grid—the platform optimizes route planning and infrastructure placement. The simulation incorporates geographic data, truck specifications, and operational schedules to evaluate performance metrics such as refueling wait times, total hydrogen demand, and emissions reductions (CO₂, NOₓ, PM2). The study also assesses health co-benefits, compares hydrogen with battery-electric freight options, and estimates the grid impact of hydrogen infrastructure deployment.