Volvo Trucks begins testing hydrogen fuel cell trucks; cellcentric fuel cells for commercialization
21 June 2022
Volvo Trucks has started to test its hydrogen fuel cell powered trucks. Volvo Trucks already offers battery electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels, such as biogas. In the second half of this decade, a third CO2-neutral option will be added to its product portfolio: fuel cell electric trucks powered by hydrogen.
We have been developing this technology for some years now, and it feels great to see the first trucks successfully running on the test track. The combination of battery electric and fuel cell electric will enable our customers to completely eliminate CO2 exhaust emissions from their trucks, no matter transport assignments.
—Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks
The fuel cell electric trucks will have an operational range comparable to many diesel trucks—up to 1000 km—and a refueling time of less than 15 minutes. The total weight can be around 65 tons or even higher, and the two fuel cells have the capacity to generate 300 kW of electricity onboard.
Customer pilots will start in a few years from now and commercialization is planned for the latter part of this decade.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks will be especially suitable for long distances and heavy, energy-demanding assignments. They could also be an option in countries where battery charging possibilities are limited.
—Roger Alm
The fuel cells will be supplied by cellcentric—the joint venture between the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG. Cellcentric will build one of Europe’s largest series production facilities for fuel-cells, specially developed for heavy vehicles.
We expect the supply of green hydrogen to increase significantly during the next couple of years, since many industries will depend on it to reduce CO2. However, we cannot wait to decarbonize transport, we are already running late. So, my clear message to all transport companies is to start the journey today with battery electric, biogas and the other options available. The fuel cell trucks will then be an important complement for longer and heavier transports in a few years from now.
—Roger Alm
I was wondering if Volvo are going to use liquid hydrogen, as Daimler intend for their heavy trucks, or gaseous.
Here is what I have found out:
https://www.electrive.com/2022/06/21/volvo-trucks-presents-fc-truck-with-1000-km-range/
' Currently, Volvo is focusing on gaseous storage. As with other H2 trucks, such as the Hyundai XCIENT, the hydrogen pressure tanks are placed behind the cab. Volvo does not stack the pressure tanks horizontally here, but has placed five large tanks vertically next to each other. The tank connection is also located on the driver’s side of the clearly visible tank unit.
For the fuel cells produced jointly with Daimler Truck, it is not a problem how the hydrogen is stored on board – in the fuel cell itself the H2 arrives in a gaseous form anyway. “The fuel cell can process both liquid and gaseous hydrogen, there is no difference,” Daimler Truck CEO Martin Daum said last year. “The filling stations will only be able to support one technology – gaseous or liquid. So the industry has to make a choice.”
Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, does not comment on the issue of storage – there is not a word in the memo about the use of liquid hydrogen.'
It sounds to me as though they are feeling their way, and have not reached a decision as yet.
It probably depends on how much weight Daimler can bring to bear to enable liquid hydrogen roll out.
Posted by: Davemart | 21 June 2022 at 11:16 AM
If the rig is 80,000 pounds
an extra 1000 is not a deal
Posted by: SJC | 21 June 2022 at 10:39 PM