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To decarbonize the transport industry, Volvo Trucks already offers battery-electric trucks today, as well as those powered by renewable fuels such as biogas. In the second half of this decade, a third CO2-neutral option will be added to the company’s product portfolio – electric trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
“We have been working on the development of this technology for several years, and it feels great to see the first trucks successfully on the test track. The versatile range of electric trucks with batteries and those with fuel cells will enable our customers to completely eliminate CO2 emissions, regardless of their specific transport tasks,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
The hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks will achieve a range comparable to many diesel trucks – up to 1,000 km – with a charging time of less than 15 minutes. The total weight can be around 65 tons or even more, and the two fuel cells are capable of generating 300 kW of power.
The customers of the pilot phase will be able to start in a few years, and marketing is planned for the second half of this decade.
“Hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks are particularly suitable for long distances and heavy, energy-intensive tasks. They could also be an option for countries where battery charging opportunities are limited,” explains Roger Alm.
Generates Its Own Power
A fuel cell generates its own electricity from the hydrogen in the vehicle. Therefore, it does not need to be charged from an external source. The only byproduct released is water vapor.
Fuel Cells Provided by cellcentric
The fuel cells will be supplied by cellcentric, the joint venture between the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG. Cellcentric will build one of the largest production facilities for the series production of fuel cells in Europe, specifically designed for heavy vehicles, in Germany.
“We expect the supply of environmentally friendly hydrogen to significantly increase in the coming years, as many industries will depend on it to reduce CO2 emissions. However, we can no longer postpone the decarbonization of the transport sector, as we are already very late. My clear message to all transport companies is: Start today with battery electricity, biogas, and the other available options.
The fuel cell trucks will be an important addition for longer and heavier transports in a few years,” notes Roger Alm.
Photo: © Volvo Trucks
