The initial tests of KEYOU’s truck and city bus, which are powered by hydrogen engines, will begin soon.
Although many equipment manufacturers are interested in hydrogen engine technology, automobiles incorporating this technology are still uncommon. While Toyota is testing it on automobiles using prototypes based on the Corolla and Yaris, the German KEYOU is one of the first to use it on big equipment. Two prototypes were shown to demonstrate the technology’s versatility: an 18-ton truck and a 12-meter city bus.
Both types produce up to 210 kilowatts of electricity by converting current diesel engines to hydrogen. The company claims 500 kilometers of autonomy with a full tank without specifying the volume of the hydrogen tanks.
Several stages of testing
The hydrogen bus and truck developed by KEYOU will be tested first on a track, then on public highways in the spring of 2022.
Following these testing, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the firm will execute the second set of tests in real-world situations with pioneer customers. Other engine platforms will be added to cars the following year, in 2024, to fulfill market needs.
Durable, resistant, and cost-effective
“These cars’ hydrogen engines are both robust, resilient, and economically advantageous,” stated Thomas Korn, KEYOU’s CEO, and co-founder. ” In fact, very modest changes are required to their core architecture. As a result, their overall expenses are comparable to those of diesel engines. Customers may thus purchase a non-polluting truck or bus for a price comparable to that of a fossil-fuel-powered vehicle.
