The Scottish Wholesale Association and Arcola Energy have teamed up to deploy more hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Scotland to help the UK transition to zero-emission road freight.
The Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Cell Freight Trial (SHyFT) has previously received funding from the Department of Transport’s Zero Emission Road Freight programme, and each deployed hydrogen-powered truck will use Scotland’s long-standing hydrogen station network.
In addition to utilizing existing infrastructure, the alliance will seek to develop creative solutions to aid in the adoption of future zero-emission automobiles. The partnership’s actions are expected to aid in the development of low-cost, zero-emission heavy goods trucks (HGVs) and supporting refueling infrastructure in the UK.
Arcola is the vehicle OEM integrating a scalable fuel cell powertrain technology into a “glider” chassis as the principal partner. For the trial, Scottish Power and BOC will provide expertise in green hydrogen production, supply, and refueling.
Based on the study’s findings, a future experiment may include a test fleet of 20-30 trucks, with three existing refuellers and new installations added throughout the trial. A total cost of ownership (TCO) study will also be included in the project to assist operators in determining sustainability.
