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Emission-free freighting
Increasing adoption of electric
passenger vehicles, unabated
global climate change and growing
online shopping over the last
decade has gradually led to the
need for a sustainable zero emission
freight network to meet the
aggressive climate goals and
policies set by the regulatory bodies
around the world. The existing
freight network covers a significant
stretch of miles, consumes a
tremendous amount of fuel and is
among the highest contributors to
greenhouse gas emissions and
pollution worldwide.
Hydrogen fuel cells are a
zero-emission technology that is
ready to compete with conventional
fossil fuel-based combustion
engines in performance, operation,
fueling requirements, and shows
great potential to address the freight
network’s emissions dilemma. In
comparison to batteries, when
stored aboard a vehicle hydrogen
has a much higher energy density
per weight allowing fuel cell vehicles
to travel longer distances and
perform better for heavier loads.
Both public and private entities
around the world have been
investing steadily in vehicle
propulsion solutions that can meet
the vigorous and demanding duty
cycles of their freight operations.
A class 8 truck for example, often
operates 8–16 hours a day with
a payload of over 80,000lbs. The
combined factors of distance,
weight, and fueling timing are not
suitable for strictly battery-based
solutions. The larger the payload
being hauled, the larger and heavier
the battery size required, creating
a paradigm of ine iciency.
Hydrogen fuel cell powered
transport has gained a lot of ground
over the last decade with successful
implementations in rail, trucks, bus,
and other medium and heavy-duty
A new zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell class 8 drayage truck will be put into service in Greater California
applications. This year in California,
a new zero-emission hydrogen fuel
cell class 8 drayage truck will be
running in Greater Los Angeles area
hauling cargo between two major
ports using major freight routes in
the State. This project was made
possible with the funding from the
Californian Energy Commission,
support from the South Coast Air
Quality Management District and
the Total Transportation Solution
(TTSI) truck operator.
For the purposes of the project,
the truck was designed to have a
range of 150 miles (240 km) between
fueling with only a 30kg compressed
hydrogen tank system and able to
200 // July 2019 // www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com
refuel in less than 15 minutes. By
simply increasing the fuel storage
capacity, future iterations can have
ranges comparable to traditional
diesel freights with zero emissions
on every mile.
Designed, integrated and built by
Canadian and US teams, the truck
features a 60kW fuel cell power
system, CelerityPlus, designed and
developed by Hydrogenics for
medium and heavy-duty
commercial vehicles. This is the third
generation of freight trucks powered
by Hydrogenics fuel cells with the
first occurring over a decade ago. It
is integrated with a Siemens’ electric
Elfa drive system and a 100kWh
custom Actia battery pack in one
of the most popular Daimler
Freightliner’s chassis. Support and
service for this truck will be provided
by Hydrogenics’ at its Californian
facility in Carlsbad.
The truck is well suited for city
and regional use in logistics,
shipping, and forwarding operations.
Although the technology is ready for
long-distance inter-regional routes,
its adaption is largely limited by the
availability of hydrogen refueling
stations along routes. But the
availability of refueling stations is
on the rise. There are over 370
hydrogen stations worldwide, 48
of which opened in just the last year,
with more in development. In
California alone there are already
40 light duty hydrogen refueling
stations in operation.
To meet fueling needs, hydrogen
fuel can be produced 24/7 onsite
at the refueling station using an
electrolyzer, or trucked in from a
remote hydrogen production plant.
When the electrolysis equipment
is powered by a renewable energy
source such as solar or wind then
100% renewable hydrogen fuel can
be produced for entirely zero
well-to-wheel emissions.
With market proven performance
already established in Europe and
North America and a growing
hydrogen supply infrastructure
in development, a new movement
is underway, and it may just be
powered by hydrogen.
CelerityPlus is the fi rst fuel cell
that is designed for engine bay
drop-in installation
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To learn more about Hydrogenics,
visit: www.magupdate.co.uk/PEHV
Hydrogen fuel cells could be the most realistic option for
developing a well-to-wheel zero emission logistics network
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