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Volvo goes green with vapour

VIDEO: Ever wondered what a hydrogen fuel cell is and its potential as a future energy source? Well, this short video from Volvo Trucks may help deliver a little clarity and clear the cobwebs of confusion

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Volvo Trucks is currently running tests of fuel cell electric trucks that only emit water vapour and have an operational range comparable to diesel trucks – up to 1,000km. A second pilot phase is to follow in 2025 with selected customers on public roads tests in northern Europe.

According to Volvo, additional fuel cell electric trucks will be tested in other countries over the ensuing years.

Volvo says hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks will be especially suitable for long distance and heavy, energy-demanding assignments. The Swedish truck maker believes they could also be an option in countries where battery charging possibilities are limited.

Jessica Sandström, SvP global product management at Volvo Trucks believes the pilot tests will highlight the potential for fuel cell electric trucks.

“The tests will run in a demanding, harsh climate and it also give us a great opportunity for driving with heavy loads up 65 tonnes,” she says.

Jessica Sandström, SvP global product management at Volvo Trucks

Volvo Trucks says the goal of the pilot tests will be to look at all different aspects of the truck’s operation including working components, handling and driver experience.

A fuel cell generates its own electricity from the hydrogen onboard instead of being charged from an external source. The only biproduct emitted is water vapour.

Volvo’s electric trucks will use two fuel cells with a capacity to generate 300kW of power and will have a refuel time of less than 15 minutes.

Fuel cell technology is still in an early phase of development and while there are many benefits there remains some challenges, not least the large-scale supply of green hydrogen* and need to develop fuelling infrastructure. (Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy sources, such as wind, water and sun.)

Filling up with hydrogen

To overcome the lack of available hydrogen when running the pilots, the filling of green hydrogen from renewable sources will be done at the home-depot.

“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,” Sandström says.

“The fuel cell trucks will be important for longer and heavier transportations in a few years from now.”

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, especially developed for heavy vehicles.

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