Fuel-cell vehicles in the trucking industry have been touted as the future for years now, but Volvo Trucks is taking steps to test whether this technology is truly ready for primetime. The automaker plans to begin testing fuel-cell trucks on European roadways beginning in 2025. The initial testing phase will involve only a small group of customers across Northern Europe, but Volvo Trucks plans to expand its testing capabilities in the years to follow.
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Long on Distance, Light on Fuel
Fuel-cell technology in the trucking industry has been a point of contention among traditionalists and those who embrace new technologies. At odds is the issue of fuel economy and cost.
While commuter electric vehicles have made strides in the last decade, eventually leading to all-electric vehicles now being fairly commonplace, commercial trucks require greater power to haul heavy loads long distances. These are requirements that all-electric technology has had a hard time meeting, but fuel-cell technology may be able to overcome these challenges.
With Volvo Trucks’ testing, fuel-cell vehicles are expected to be able to travel over 600 miles or 1,000km. The trucks undergoing testing will travel on public roadways and will draw power from hydrogen fuel cells. Volvo Trucks touts this technology as the future, particularly in areas where battery-charging stations are not available or are not feasible as hydrogen powers the vehicle instead of mere electricity.
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The Tech Behind the Tests
Hydrogen fuel cells generate onboard power and only emit water vapor. The total charging time of a hydrogen fuel cell is around 15 minutes currently, but charging times may improve further with time. Testing conducted by Volvo Trucks will involve green hydrogen that will be supplied at the company’s fleet depot.
Fuel cells involved in the testing are being supplied by Cellcentric. This is a venture jointly formed by Volvo Trucks and Daimler Truck AG. In time, the partnership corporation plans to build a hydrogen fuel cell production plant in Europe to supply the continent with access to clean energy solutions in the automotive industry.
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