Volvo has Started Testing Trucks with Fuel Cells Powered by Hydrogen
The eco-friendly trucks segment is getting more attention from carmakers, after Scania, Daimler, and Tesla. Volvo is starting its own program, based on hydrogen power.
Electrifying a truck comes with its own set of challenges, completely different from those of a car, that’s why companies felt the need for initiating dedicated EV truck programs, separate from their EV cars projects.
Volvo stated its goals in the new program’s announcement last Monday. The trucks will have a range of more than 620 miles. With a refueling time of under 15 minutes, impressive numbers to say the least!
Real-world testing will start in the next few years, while commercialization is expected to begin towards the end of this decade.
Preparations for this venture started back in 2021 when Volvo created “cellcentric” in collaboration with Daimler, the company was tasked with developing efficient hydrogen Fuel cells for both carmakers.
Now, “cellcentric” will supply Volvo with all its needs concerning hydrogen power.
It’s worth noting that “Volvo trucks” is not betting all its money on Hydrogen, parallel development programs are working simultaneously on battery-electric trucks. as Daimler Truck said, “it’s too risky for a company our size to go with just one technology.”
Large companies have announced their zero-emission truck technologies some time ago. And the Swedish carmaker wants to have its own share in this immerging market before the competition gets even harder. Daimler Truck, Tesla, and Scania are the major players on the field for now and each one of them is working hard to develop the most efficient eco-friendly truck out there.
But Why Hydrogen Power Precisely?
The main advantage of hydrogen power is that it is a “versatile energy carrier,” as described by the IEA. It can be used in a large number of industries and can be produced using several methods, making it a very good alternative for companies or countries which don’t necessarily have the needed technology or wealth to reduce their carbon emissions.
Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, explained how Hydrogen may be the ideal energy source when it comes to frequent long-distance travel “Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks will be especially suitable for long distances and heavy, energy-demanding assignments.”
Martin Daum, chairman of the board of management at Daimler Truck, also defended the choice by explaining the differences between Hydrogen cells and regular electric batteries.
“We go for both because both … make sense,” he said, “In general, you can say: If you go to city delivery where you need lower amounts of energy in there, you can charge overnight in a depot, then it’s certainly battery electric.”
“But the moment you’re on the road, the moment you go from Stockholm to Barcelona … in my opinion, you need something which you can transport better and where you can refuel better and that is ultimately H2.”
“The ruling is not out, but I think it’s too risky for a company our size to go with just one technology.”
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