Subscribe

Tag: hydrogen

Hydrogen for HGV Heavies

Posted on by David Priestman

Heavy Goods Vehicles are well-suited to the use of hydrogen for carbon-free transport fleets and good progress is being made. Richard Shepherd-Barron reports for Logistics Business.

In recent years the emphasis on clean power has been very much concentrated on electric vehicles – especially in the light van and medium vehicle sectors. However, there are drawbacks, such as the reduction in load capacity with an increase in the unladen weight from the batteries and the reduction in operating mileage with the need to recharge. Truck makers across the world have been working on the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and with a particular emphasis on larger trucks although it has been interesting to see that four makers of light commercial vehicles introduced new hydrogen-powered models at the recent IAA Transportation show in Hannover. This has provided a clear indication of the appeal of this technology.

All this activity has not gone unnoticed in EU circles and an additional €1.2 billion fund has just been announced by the European Commission to support the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). At the same time, MAN Energy Solutions subsidiary company, electrolysis specialist Quest One, has opened a new ‘giga hub’ for the serial and automated production of electrolysis stacks in Hamburg. At full capacity this new factory is expected to produce stacks with a potential total electrolysis capacity of over five gigawatts per year. The UK is not lagging behind, with the Government announcing in October an £88 million finding boost for zero emission tech firms.

There are two ways to produce hydrogen. Firstly, by cracking fossil fuels – this is called ‘grey’ hydrogen because CO2 is always released when fossil fuels are processed. A second, and much cleaner way to create hydrogen is through electrolysis – when electricity generated from renewable sources is passed through water to create oxygen and hydrogen for a 100% carbon-free product. Used in vehicle engines, this produces only water as its emission.

There are two types of hydrogen-powered vehicle – one using hydrogen fuel-cells to generate electricity to drive electric propulsion and the other where hydrogen replaces diesel fuel in a conventional engine. Both systems require tanks for the hydrogen. The fuel-cell units are, of course, totally silent but the combustion engines have an advantage in hot climates and where power is needed over long periods.

Alternative Zero Emissions

MAN have won the Truck Innovation Award 2025 for their hTGX hydrogen combustion truck (pictured) offering an alternative zero-emission solution. Delivery of the first 200 units starts next year to customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and selected non-European countries providing an alternative zero-emission solution. Using the proven H45 engine, it is available in 6×2 and 6×4 axle configurations, enabling a high payload and with maximum ranges of up to 600 kms.

Volvo are also working on hydrogen fuelled trucks, but Toyota have gone further by carrying out trials in Belgium with a new hydrogen fuel-cell powered delivery truck for Coca Cola. This trial is in conjunction with the i gases company, Air Liquide. This collaboration is designed to highlight the potential development of both vehicles and infrastructure to provide operators with zero-emission vehicles. Toyota are also testing this system in trucks used by their logistics providers on their daily routes in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Mercedes-Benz have their GenH2 truck which has a range of more than 1,000 km, carrying the same payload as a conventional diesel vehicle.

In the UK, Hydrogen Vehicle systems (HVS) has signed a deal to deliver 30 of its hydrogen fuel cell electric tractor units to Worksop-based Explore Plant and Transport Solutions. The trucks will be supported by a service and maintenance plan, full training on the safe use of hydrogen and refuelling, along with hydrogen refuelling infrastructure that fully meets Explore’s operational needs. Vauxhall is beginning customer trials of hydrogen fuel cell vans, based on their current Vivaro Electric range.

Providing an alternative to battery-electric vehicles, particularly at the heavy end of operations, the future looks strong for hydrogen power.

similar news

First Hydrogen vans receive certification

 

Decarbonisation of shipping could create up to four million green jobs

Posted on by Will Priestman
  • Decarbonisation of the global maritime industry could support the creation of up to four million green jobs by 2050.
  • Demand for e-fuels is set to scale to over 500m tonnes by 2040, requiring additional 2TW of renewable energy generation capacity and £3.2 trillion of infrastructure investment.
  • This significant capital investment will see most green jobs created during the 2030s, to support renewable energy capacity building.
  • Majority of jobs likely to be distributed in the Global South, where conditions are optimal for the production of green fuels.
  • Based on Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, new analysis by the Global Maritime Forum and Arup.

Copenhagen, 9 May 2024 – The Global Maritime Forum has revealed the immense economic potential presented by the decarbonisation of shipping. New analysis, commissioned by the Global Maritime Forum and conducted by Arup, projects that the maritime sector’s transition to e-fuels could support up to four million new green jobs by 2050, double the number of seafarers serving globally today. Job creation will be seen across the three main phases of the supply chain: renewable energy generation, hydrogen production and e-fuel production.

The shipping industry is currently responsible for 3% of global CO2 emissions, equivalent to the annual emissions of Japan. As the backbone of the global economy – responsible for 80% of global trade – the industry has faced enormous pressure to rapidly decarbonise. In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s member states agreed an end date to fossil fuel consumption “by or around” 2050.

Achieving this target will require large volumes of scalable zero emission fuels, a significant share of which will be e-fuels based on hydrogen. Projections show that shipping’s demand for e-fuels could rapidly scale to over 500 million tonnes by 2040, rising to 600 million tonnes by 2050. Meeting such demand could require an additional 2TW of renewable energy generation capacity, and 1TW of hydrogen production capacity by 2050.

Maritime transition is a trillion-dollar market opportunity

The analysis, titled Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, focuses on renewable energy and fuel production linked to e-fuels, adopting an illustrative scenario where e-fuels become the energy source for international shipping. In this scenario, up to £3.2 trillion of investment is required to support the development of renewable infrastructure, hydrogen production, and fuel production facilities for e-ammonia for shipping.

This significant capital investment will have a dramatic impact on the creation of green jobs across the supply chain. It also has the potential to create immense benefits to the wider economy, furthering climate action, whilst also supporting the development of renewable energy projects and the uptake of green hydrogen across other sectors.

Jesse Fahnestock, Director of Decarbonisation, at Global Maritime Forum, said: “This research marks a critical first step in exploring the fundamental role maritime decarbonisation will play in the creation of green jobs within the energy sector. The analysis demonstrates the sheer scale of the potential to create large numbers of highly-skilled green jobs, in this instance driven by a single fuel. Many of these jobs will also be transferable to other sectors – supporting further decarbonisation beyond shipping.”

Creating green jobs across the supply chain

Providing shipping decarbonisation keeps track with the IMO’s ‘striving indicative checkpoints’, the new data provides an outline of the growth of green jobs from the 2020s through the 2040s for each of the main areas of the supply chain – renewable energy generation, hydrogen production and e-fuel production.

Due to the rapid scaling of e-fuel uptake during the 2030s, it’s predicted that this decade will see the creation of the most green jobs across each area of the supply chain – an upper bound range of between 1m and 4m jobs worldwide. This will be supported by over £2.2 trillion of capital investment in the development renewables and infrastructure, and a huge build-out of energy and fuel capacity – 1,500GW of renewable energy generation, 800GW of green hydrogen, and 530Mtpa of green ammonia.

Job numbers are likely to be smaller in the 2020s and ultimately reduce in the 2040s, as capital investment reduces. A large proportion of these jobs, however, will be transferable to other sectors and will ultimately support the development of wider renewable energy capacity; aiding decarbonisation efforts across other sectors.

Jeremy Anderson, Director of Just Transition and Sustainable Transport at International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said: “The creation of new green jobs can help address economic inequalities between the Global North and Global South. However, green jobs must also be good jobs, with decent working conditions, labour rights, and a strong voice for workers.”

More attention required to map green jobs potential in maritime 

As trillions of capital investment gets funnelled into green fuels for the maritime sector, stimulating the creation of green jobs can help countries transition away from fossil fuels, whilst providing a direct, quantifiable contribution to a country’s economy.

Investments in the Global South in particular, where climate provides the greatest conditions for e-fuel production, have shown to contribute significantly toward higher job creation, relative to an equivalent investment in a country in the Global North. This suggests a higher potential for developing countries to leverage investments towards wider green job creation.

Connor Bingham, Project Manager at Global Maritime Forum and author of Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, said: “The huge levels of investment will impact all corners of the globe, helping many countries around the world provide opportunities to workers negatively affected by the transition away from more carbon-intensive industries. It’s vital that we further explore the different geographic implications, particularly in the Global South, to ensure we can unlock the enormous potential for economic growth across nations.”

The Global Maritime Forum calls for further research and analysis on the role of other future fuels, beyond e-fuels, in the creation of quality green jobs, as well as building a stronger understanding of the different geographical implications relating to the decarbonisation of the maritime sector.

Read Similar…

Reducing Pollutant Emissions in Shipping

Hydrogen-Powered Electric Trucks Road-tested

Posted on by David Priestman

Emitting only water vapour, hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks will be an important part of Volvo Trucks’ zero exhaust emission product portfolio and the vehicles have recently passed a significant milestone – being test-driven on public roads.

Last year, Volvo Trucks showcased its fuel cell electric trucks for the first time. These zero exhaust emission trucks use hydrogen to produce their own electricity onboard – making them suitable for longer transport assignments.

Now, the trucks have been tested on public roads for the first time. But not just any public road. To make it extra-challenging, the tests have been conducted above the Arctic Circle in the north of Sweden – in an extremely cold climate.

“Trucks are operating seven days a week and in all types of weather. The harsh conditions on public roads in northern Sweden, with ice, wind and lots of snow, make an ideal testing environment,” says Helena Alsiö, VP Powertrain Product Management at Volvo Trucks. “I am pleased to say that the tests are going well, confirming those we carried out before, both digitally and on our confined test track close to Gothenburg.”

Fuel cell electric trucks powered by hydrogen will be especially suitable for longer distances and when using only batteries isn’t an option: for example, in rural areas with no charging infrastructure.

Commercially available in the second half of this decade

Volvo currently offers the industry’s broadest product line-up of battery electric trucks, with six models in series production, catering to a wide variety of transport routes in and between cities. The fuel cell electric trucks will be available in the second half of this decade. Tests with hauliers will start a few years before the commercial launch. To speed up the development, Volvo Group has joined forces with Daimler to develop and produce fuel cell systems that are tailor-made for heavy-duty vehicles. For hauliers who want to offer zero exhaust emission transport already, Volvo Trucks currently offers six different battery electric models as well as trucks that run on renewable fuels, such as biogas.

“We need to act now in order to stop global warming. Regardless of the transport assignments or where in the world our customers are operating, waiting is not an option. In a few years, our customers will be able to completely eliminate CO2 exhaust emissions from their trucks,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.

Fact-file: Volvo’s hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks will use two fuel cells with a capacity to generate 300 kW of electric power. Green hydrogen is an endless resource that is produced by using renewable energy sources, such as wind, water and sun.

Solutions Benefit Climate, Handling Performance

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling (MH) is supporting its customers on their path to a more sustainable future, providing innovative products and software solutions as well as a range of precisely tailored services. The focus is on the goal of reducing CO2 emissions, saving energy and cutting operating costs while maintaining high handling performance. The various offerings in this regard are subsumed under the motto “Green Performance”. Measures range from high-performance truck models with lithium-ion batteries and the first fuel cell developed in Aschaffenburg all the way to battery charging and energy management solutions, HVO fuels, software-supported consulting services and battery recycling.

“The search for cost-effective, climate-friendly energy solutions presents our customers with major challenges,” says Stefan Prokosch, Senior Vice President Brand Management at Linde Material Handling – an insight he gained from numerous discussions with industrial truck operators and network partners. Forklift trucks and warehouse equipment are expected to make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse emissions, while at the same time continuing to deliver their usual high performance and providing cost savings wherever possible.

Linde MH has taken a first major step in this direction with its latest truck generation: For the first time, Linde X electric forklift models are now on a par with their IC-powered counterparts, even when it comes to demanding outdoor applications, and they combine the advantages of both drive options. Emission-free in operation, potentially climate-neutral, ergonomic, quiet and easy to service, these trucks with lithium-ion batteries are the perfect alternative to diesel or LPG powered forklifts. From April 2023, when the next larger series is set to be launched on the market, these advantages will no longer be limited to trucks with 2 to 3.5 tons of load capacity but will also be available for the 3.5 to 5 ton capacity range. The fact that Linde MH is serious about switching to clean electric trucks was already demonstrated last year when the manufacturer electrified its heavy-duty trucks in the load capacity range of 10 to 18 tons. Thus, an electric drive variant is now available for all Linde truck models. Linde MH has also taken another important step forward in terms of battery recycling. In the future, a strategic cooperation with the company Li-Cycle will ensure the environmentally friendly recovery of materials for all lithium-ion batteries delivered. “Linde MH customers can rest assured that the batteries will be recycled at the end of their useful life in such a way as to ensure that up to 95 percent of the raw materials will be recovered and returned to the material cycle,” Prokosch explains.

Hydrogen is also gaining in importance as another viable type of energy. This is because it can also potentially be obtained from regenerative sources such as the sun, wind or water and is therefore sustainable. At the LogiMAT trade fair in Stuttgart, Linde MH will be presenting its first own self-manufactured fuel cell system. Once launched on the market, the stacks with 24 volts of voltage and 1.8 kW of power will be used in order pickers and tow tractors, and in the future, they will also be used in Linde brand pallet trucks and double stackers. “With Linde HyPower, we have developed an exceptionally robust, powerful and user-friendly fuel cell system and can now offer our customers in the warehouse equipment segment a complete ‘one stop shop’ solution consisting of vehicles, fuel cell systems and servicing,” announces Linde MH’s top brand manager. Hydrogen-powered forklifts are particularly impressive due to their short refuelling times, their suitability for both indoor and outdoor use, and the fact that they are emission-free. The vehicles bring their advantages to bear particularly in multi-shift operation entailing many operating hours.

“For those customers who, for various reasons, continue to prefer diesel trucks, we offer an option in the form of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which enables them to reduce the CO2 emissions of their vehicles by up to 90 percent,” Prokosch points out.

However, the claim of “Green Performance” does not refer exclusively to products. Software solutions and consulting services make their contribution as well. For example, the intelligent battery charge management system Linde connect:charger helps customers to avoid peak demand in energy and to adjust the charging strategy according to the specific situation – always with the goal of optimizing energy consumption and energy costs while maximizing equipment availability and making the best possible use of renewable energies. The company-wide integration of all energy-relevant aspects succeeds thanks to the Linde Energy Manager. “Determining energy consumption in advance, taking into account all producers and consumers, and planning energy purchases helps to achieve a reduction in both CO2 emissions and energy costs,” summarizes Stefan Prokosch.

100 Nikola Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Ordered

Posted on by David Priestman

Nikola Corporation, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation, energy supply and infrastructure solutions, and IVECO, the brand of Iveco Group that designs, manufactures, and markets heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks, have announced a Letter of Intent for an order of 100 Class 8, heavy-duty Nikola Tre hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) from GP JOULE, a system provider for integrated energy solutions based in Reussenkoege, Germany. The Nikola Tre FCEVs in the European 6×2 variant will be manufactured by the joint venture between Nikola and Iveco Group at the site created in Ulm, Germany.

Thirty of the initial 100 Nikola Tre FCEVs are expected to be delivered to GP JOULE within 2024. This will be followed by the delivery of the remaining 70 vehicles in 2025, with the possibility for GP JOULE to acquire them through GATE – Green & Advanced Transport Ecosystem – Iveco Group’s all-inclusive electric truck rental model. IVECO will provide the essential maintenance and service functions. GP JOULE will make the 100 Nikola trucks available to its customers in transport and logistics. The order is subject to GP JOULE’s successful application for KsNI funding, Germany’s program to support the acquisition of vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly powertrains. Furthermore, starting in 2026, GP JOULE and Iveco Group have agreed to market additional FCEVs to customers in Europe. GP JOULE will provide them with 100% green hydrogen via their hydrogen refuelling station network.

Michael Lohscheller, President and CEO, Nikola Corporation, said, “The order from GP JOULE will be an example of how the Nikola Tre FCEV can further support commercial customers in Germany in their transition towards zero-emissions several years ahead of other OEMs, which helps to achieve the goal of decarbonising the transportation sector.”

Andre Steinau, Managing Director at GP JOULE HYDROGEN, declared: “100% renewable energy for all, this is what drives us. Together with Nikola and IVECO, we offer our customers all the components for climate-neutral heavy-duty transport from a single source: from the production and purchase of green hydrogen to the hydrogen filling stations to the fuel cell trucks and service that meet their needs. This is the easy entry into emission-free freight transport.”

Simone Olivati, President, Financial Services, Iveco Group commented: “We are very pleased by the choice of GP JOULE and that with this agreement, thanks to our innovative GATE rental model, we will bring hydrogen mobility to customers in Germany and progress on the decarbonisation of road freight transport. GATE is dedicated to meeting the needs of both battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric commercial vehicle customers, initially serving both the IVECO and Nikola brands. This agreement is a chance to start offering our comprehensive service based on a pay-per-use formula that will allow customers access to the propulsion of tomorrow.”

Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

First Hydrogen unveils green vans

Posted on by Keith McKinley

First Hydrogen, an automotive and energy developer, has revealed its first zero emission light commercial vehicles (LCVs) after commencing track-based testing.

The First Hydrogen fuel cell-powered vans (FCEV) have commenced performance tests at the HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground, located near Birmingham, UK. These track tests will confirm the safety and performance of the LCVs prior to handover from powertrain specialists AVL to First Hydrogen. In October 2022, the vehicles were certified for UK road use ahead of a series of road trials with major UK operators, which start in January 2023. The vehicles will undertake final testing designed to fine tune operational performance, before they will be available for fleet operator trials to commence in the New Year.

The company’s inaugural vehicles have more than five times more range capability than their battery electric equivalent – achieving 400-600km range on a single fuelling compared to the 115km range of the battery electric van running at the same maximum speed. With a refuelling time of approximately five minutes, the time required to power First Hydrogen’s FCEVs dramatically undercuts the five hours it takes to recharge a battery electric van.

Created to encourage adoption and whet the market appetite, the company’s vehicle demonstrator program will inform development for future vehicle trials in European Union, United States and Canada. Feedback and high-level purchase commitments will also support the design and development of First Hydrogen’s next generation of vehicles, which it plans to bring to market in the next few years. The global light commercial vehicle market is projected to reach $786.5bn by 2030. These vehicles, together with First Hydrogen’s complete Hydrogen-as-a-Service (HaaS) solution, which supplies green hydrogen fuel, distribution and complementing vehicle management services, will help the sector meet zero emission targets.

 

STILL cooperates with Hydrogentle on hydrogen

Posted on by David Priestman

STILL has been a pioneer in the field of alternative energies for years and is continuing to drive forward the use of hydrogen in intralogistics. From next year on the Hamburg-based intralogistics provider will not only be producing fuel cell systems at the company’s own plant, but has also entered into a cooperation regarding hydrogen infrastructure in order to offer customers everything from a single source.

STILL will launch its own 24V fuel cell system for warehouse trucks next year. This will be produced at the main plant in Hamburg. With this, STILL will be the first original equipment manufacturer on the European market to produce fuel cell systems – so-called battery replacement modules – at its own production facilities.

“Fuel cell technology is certainly STILL’s most innovative mainstay at the moment,” explains Frank Müller, Senior Vice President STILL Brand Management. “Particularly in view of the current crises, we believe that this technology has a great chance to succeed.

In order to advise and support its customers comprehensively in matters of fuel cell technology as well, STILL has entered into a partnership with Hydrogentle GmbH, a Hamburg-based engineering firm that plans special plant construction, prepares feasibility analyses and advises customers on the subject of hydrogen infrastructure.

“With the support of the hydrogen specialist Hydrogentle, we can, in the interest of our customers, offer a holistic approach to the topic of fuel cells,” Müller continues. Holistic means that the customer only needs one point of contact with STILL: to provide high-quality industrial trucks that are ‘fuel cell-ready’, the fuel cell, the service and the entire hydrogen infrastructure – all from a single source.

Hydrogentle GmbH, based in the Port of Hamburg, develops and implements projects and concepts in the field of green hydrogen and provides support to customers. Like STILL, Hydrogentle takes a holistic approach: consulting, evaluation and individual site assessment as well as planning, project management and implementation. At the customer’s request, Hydrogentle provides support right up to the handover of a turnkey hydrogen infrastructure for the refuelling of industrial trucks and other vehicles.

“Hydrogen and all that it entails is complicated,” says Axel Poblotzki, Managing Director of Hydrogentle GmbH. “We simplify the topic and make hydrogen- based solutions tangible at every scale.”

The one-face-to-the-customer approach takes on a special meaning in the context of hydrogen. The value chain from the production to the refuelling of hydrogen is long and complex. Different suppliers and trades have to be coordinated with each other like Swiss clockwork. This is where Hydrogentle comes in and develops everyday solutions for customers. The focus is on the technical, legal and economic feasibility of projects and concepts.

“The cooperation between our two companies will significantly simplify the consultation, the installation of infrastructure and the operation of fuel cell-powered forklift trucks for our customers,” says Müller. “We are very pleased that we were able to win Hydrogentle as a partner.”

 

ScottishPower ponders hydrogen hub at Felixstowe

Posted on by Keith McKinley

ScottishPower, with Hutchison Ports, is exploring the opportunity to develop, build and operate a multi-hundred MW green hydrogen production facility at the Port of Felixstowe – with the potential to decarbonise industry and transportation in the region.

Both companies have set out their vision to help create a greener port, which could provide clean fuel for customers at Britain’s busiest container port.

Plans are being developed to use green hydrogen for onshore purposes, such as road, rail and industrial use, with the potential to create liquid forms, such as green ammonia or e-methanol. This could, in turn, provide clean fuels for shipping and aviation, and create opportunities for cost-effective export to international markets.  The project aims to continue engineering and site development works to align with customer demand from 2025 onwards.

Being ‘homemade’, green hydrogen has clear benefits for the security of UK energy supply and is a safe, long-term energy solution that could be vital for those who cannot decarbonise their operations through renewable electricity alone.

As well as accelerating the potential for cleaner industrial processes at the port, green hydrogen is poised to transform the heavy transport sector, which is a significant emitter of the UK’s current carbon emissions.

Barry Carruthers, Hydrogen Director at ScottishPower, said: “This strategically important project could potentially create a clean fuels hub that could unlock nationally significant decarbonisation for the region, as well as playing a role in international markets. It’s perfectly located not far from our existing and future offshore windfarms in the East Anglia region, and demonstrates how renewable electricity and green hydrogen can now start to help to decarbonise road, rail, shipping and industry.”

Dr Therese Coffey MP, local MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: “I warmly welcome Hutchison Ports’ and Scottish Power’s joint plans to explore opportunities for a large-scale hydrogen hub at the Port of Felixstowe, providing green fuel at the UK’s largest container port. It’s schemes like this – and investment from industry as well as government – which is crucial for us to reach net zero by 2050.”

 

 

First Hydrogen agrees UK fleet trials

Posted on by David Priestman

First Hydrogen, the developer of zero emissions vehicles and green hydrogen production, is collaborating with the AHFC (the UK Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium). The announcement coincides with confirmation that First Hydrogen’s two demonstrator hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles (LCV) are on schedule for testing and on-road commissioning starting in late July 2022  in the UK.

The commissioning integrates First Hydrogen’s two MAN eTGE vehicles with the First Hydrogen FCE1 fuel cell propulsion system. The vehicles are expected to be delivered in Q4 this year ready for potential customer real-world usage trials in early 2023.

Managed by Element Energy, the AHFC is a partnership between leading hydrogen industry and mobility companies, including Air Products, Anglo American, Hyundai, Toyota and BOC. The consortium works together with large UK fleet operators to accelerate the commercial roll out of fuel cell vans and trucks and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

So far, 10 fleet operators have expressed interest in trialling First Hydrogen’s vehicles in their real-world operations, to experience the range and operational flexibility benefits hydrogen offers. These fleets comprise major operators from industries, including telecoms, express delivery, national utilities and national infrastructure companies; a national UK supermarket chain; a national vehicle breakdown and recovery association; an ambulance fleet; and a national fleet leasing group. The fleet trials will operate across multiple UK locations from West London, Birmingham and Sheffield, to Tees Valley and Aberdeen.

First Hydrogen and Element Energy expect to release more details on the AHFC van programme later this year.

Steve Gill, CEO of First Hydrogen Automotive, says: “Our proposal has received quite a response. We are excited to work with Element Energy and to bring our technology directly to fleet companies, demonstrating the benefits of fuel cell powered light commercial vehicles. It is a great opportunity for us to generate customer interest in our vehicles and gain first-hand customer and driver feedback to contribute to our bespoke vehicle development programme.”

William Darby, Principal Consultant, Element Energy, stated: “After hearing about the First Hydrogen van product, we knew this would spark a lot of interest from our van operator group. We are looking forward to working with First Hydrogen to ensure the trial meets the needs of each operator, whilst also providing First Hydrogen with the information and support it needs to continue developing the product.”

 

World Premiere of Hydrogen-powered Truck in Hamburg

Posted on by David Priestman

Clean Logistics has presented its first hydrogen-powered zero-emission truck to the public, in Hamburg. With ‘fyuriant’, Clean Logistics is heralding a new era in the field of environmentally friendly solutions for road freight transport and reaching another important milestone in its corporate history. Last summer, the company handed over the first converted bus with fuel cell hydrogen drive in public transportation in Europe. This is now also possible for heavy semi-trailer tractors of 40 tons.

The trucks boast ground-breaking technology. The first fyuriant is equipped, among other things, with two hydrogen fuel cells with 2×120 kW output and hydrogen tanks with a volume of 43 kg. This ensures a sufficiently high range of over 400 km and short refuelling times of less than 15 minutes. The rear axle, which is equipped with wheel hub motors, has a maximum torque of 17,000 Nm, which provides the truck with the appropriate power in any driving situation. The intelligent control system developed in- house by Clean Logistics enables an efficient control of the overall system in every driving situation. The energy recovered during braking, for instance, is temporarily stored in a battery and made available again for the next acceleration.

Dirk Graszt, CEO of Clean Logistics: “We are very excited to present our fyuriant today. The truck is an important milestone in the decarbonization of the transport sector in Germany and Europe. With our trucks and buses, we meet with a high response in the industry. This is because we are now already able to make zero-emission vehicles available to the market. Thanks to the conversion of classic diesel vehicles to zero- emission hydrogen vehicles, this is, moreover, being done in a resource-friendly manner. In this way, we will rapidly drive the transformation of mobility into a sustainable future.”

The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport as part of the implementation of the Federal Government’s Mobility and Fuel Strategy (MFS) with a total of around EUR 3.3 million. The funding measure is coordinated by NOW GmbH. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ministry for its support – without the funding, the prototype development, which represents the cornerstone for our further growth, would not have been possible,” emphasizes Dirk Graszt.

As part of the fyuriant world premiere, with its extraordinary visual design, Clean Logistics also unveiled its new corporate identity. This visual realignment is accompanied amongst other things by a new corporate design, a revised web presence and a new corporate logo. Clean Logistics thus underlines its positioning as a visionary and sustainable company with the ambition to lead heavy goods vehicle traffic into an emission-free future.

“By sharpening the purpose and the vision of Clean Logistics, the future viability of the company is underscored. This is the next logical step in the development of the entire Clean Logistics Group,” says Tom George, COO of Clean Logistics SE.

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.