A fuel cell system from PowerCell Sweden provides electricity to the world’s first hydrogen-electric and emissions-free articulated transporter prototype, constructed by Volvo Construction Equipment.
This comes after the completion of a research study that included the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and FFI, a collaboration between the Swedish Innovation Agency, Swedish Energy Agency, and Swedish Transport Administration.
The HX04 hydrogen-electric articulated carrier is a concept vehicle outfitted with a PowerCell Sweden industrialized fuel cell system that was custom-built for the vehicle and use. The carrier will first be put through its paces at Volvo Construction Equipment’s location in Bras, where the firm has built a comprehensive testing facility, including a hydrogen recharging station. The 35-ton six-wheel truck can be fueled with 12 kg of hydrogen in 7.5 minutes, providing around four hours of operation. Because the car is fueled with green hydrogen, it produces no emissions other than pure water when in operation.
Last year, PowerCell Sweden exhibited a comprehensive product portfolio in the off-road category that was tailored for electrification. Fuel cell devices with outputs ranging from 60kW to multiple megawatts are included in the range.
“A great number of diverse solutions will be required if we are to manage the shift.” Hydrogen-electric powertrains for large trucks offer the significant benefit of allowing electrification with minimum impact on the customer’s operating procedures. According to Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Sweden AB, “driving time, driving range, cargo capacity, accessibility, and filling time is roughly the same as with diesel-powered cars.”
The HX04 hydrogen-electric transporter was created as part of an FFI-funded research project that ran from 2018 to 2022 and included Volvo Construction Equipment, PowerCell Sweden AB, and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.
