Clearly Ford Did Not Get The Gasoline Cell Truck Memo

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Hydrogen gasoline cell skeptics have been heating up the Intertubes, however the cash simply retains flowing into new gasoline cell ventures. Within the newest signal of respect for the know-how, the Turkish firm Ford Otosan has launched into a sequence of offers geared toward bringing its new F-Max heavy obligation gasoline cell truck to the European market.

The information follows sizzling on the heels that GM’s Hydrotec gasoline cell division has entered the marketplace for electrical cement vehicles and different heavy obligation functions, so maintain on to your hats.

The Ford F-Max Hydrogen Gasoline Cell Truck Venture

GM‘s current actions in the hydrogen gasoline cell space have crossed the CleanTechnica radar a lot of instances, together with the corporate’s help for brand spanking new inexperienced hydrogen know-how.

The gasoline cell journey of The Ford Motor Firm has garnered considerably much less consideration. A fast search its investor web site yields little (as in, zero) hits underneath the important thing phrase “gasoline cells.” Its business website autocorrects to seek for “gasoline wells,” which isn’t significantly useful.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply nothing is happening. Earlier this yr, Ford let slip that its new E-Transit battery-powered electrical supply van — which is assembled in Turkey — will present the platform for exploring using gasoline cells in supply fleets underneath a three-year trial interval within the UK. The trial will deal with fleets which have restricted entry to battery charging infrastructure, with the concept that gasoline cell vans can change each diesel gasoline and battery energy.

“Take a look at fleet information will present insights into the full price of proudly owning and working a big van, with elevated vary and working hours to match its diesel-powered equal and with out the necessity to cost,” Ford defined in a press launch dated Could 9.

From Supply Vans To The F-Max Hydrogen Gasoline Cell Vans

Ford additionally has a hand within the hydrogen gasoline cell automobile enterprise by Ford Otosan, a publicly traded agency wherein The Ford Motor Firm holds an equal 41% share with the Turkish holding firm Koç Holding.

Ford Otosan actually has not been letting the gasoline cell grass develop underneath its toes. The E-Transit supply van challenge has barely gotten underneath means and the corporate is already scaling as much as the heavy obligation gasoline cell truck degree.

On August 3, the legacy engineering agency Ballard Energy Techniques introduced that it has partnered with the Ford Vans division of Ford Otosan to provide a gasoline cell system for the brand new F-Max prototype hydrogen gasoline cell truck. The partnership contains an preliminary buy order for 2 of Ballard’s “FCmove™-XD” 120-kilowatt gasoline cell engines.

If all goes based on plan, the brand new truck will take its place alongside current diesel automobiles in Otosan’s F-line, as a 44-ton lengthy haul heavy-duty truck.

The brand new truck may even characteristic within the EU’s plans for decarbonizing its freight hauling trade.

“Ford Vans plans to construct and assemble the gasoline cell-powered F-MAX in Turkey and goals to start European Ten-T hall demonstrations in 2025 as a part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe ZEFES (Zero Emission Freight EcoSystem) challenge objectives,” Ballard mentioned.

As defined by Ballard, the ZEFES challenge will assess 4 gasoline cell and 5 battery-powered electrical vehicles for freight hauling in actual life situations totaling greater than 1 million kilometers. All automobiles are anticipated to realize a variety of as much as 750 kilometers whereas hauling payloads of greater than 40 metric tonnes.

Two Extra Steps In the direction of The Gasoline Cell Truck Of The Future

On November 2, the German e-mobility agency Quantron AG stirred the gasoline cell pot once more, when it introduced that it has signed a letter of intent with Ford Vans to assist get the F-Max gasoline cell challenge up and working to the market.

“Inside this strategic cooperation, the Quantron Inside know-how efficient vary, revolutionary e-axle, custom-made high-power battery, gasoline cell and tank integration, unparalleled energy-management and optimized Aerodynamics for maximized effectivity can be evaluated for integration into Ford Vans’ automobiles, thus enabling emission-free transport options,” Quantron added.

Quantron is healthier identified for its experience within the battery-electric truck area, however the firm expects to use its information base to gasoline cell electrical mobility.

In one other new improvement, on December 7 the Norwegian agency Hexagon Purus introduced that Ford Vans has engaged it to ship a hydrogen gasoline storage system for the F-Max gasoline cell truck, in help of the ZEFES challenge.

“We’re utilizing our in-depth information of light-weight, dependable and secure hydrogen storage know-how to assist Ford Vans pave the best way for fuel-cell electrical long-haul heavy-duty trucking in Europe,” enthused Hexagon EVP Michael Kleschinski.

The Inexperienced Hydrogen Angle

In fact, no story a few hydrogen gasoline cell truck is full with out a point out of inexperienced hydrogen.

Till just lately, gasoline cell stakeholders have relied on a hydrogen gasoline provide chain dominated by pure gasoline and different fossil assets. The emergence of low-cost renewable power has modified the sport, by offering a cheap pathway for producing hydrogen from plain water (see extra CleanTechnica inexperienced hydrogen protection right here).

Fossil power nonetheless dominates the hydrogen provide chain, however Hexagon is among the many many hydrogen stakeholders advocating for a transition to inexperienced hydrogen.

“The primary obstacles in the present day are the restricted availability of inexperienced hydrogen and an inadequate fuelling station community,” Hexagon CEO Morten Holum advised the commerce group Hydrogen Council final spring. “So we have to work in live performance as an trade to speed up the manufacturing of inexperienced hydrogen and the provision of that hydrogen on the pump.”

Gasoline Cell Vans For The USA

The EU nonetheless appears intent on together with gasoline cell vehicles in its decarbonization technique, and exercise continues to stir over right here within the US, too.

Quantron just lately introduced plans to provide gasoline cell vehicles for the US market. The on-again, off-again saga of the US startup Nikola additionally took a flip for the higher in September, when the corporate introduced the official launch of its first business gasoline cell electrical truck (see heaps extra Nikola protection right here).

Then there’s GM. The corporate has a long run relationship with gasoline cell know-how, the newest instance being a brand new collaboration with the agency Autocar to provide gasoline cell cement vehicles and different automobiles that fall into the “vocational” class.

“Hydrogen gasoline cells are a key element of GM’s electrification technique which extends past battery-powered passenger automobiles,” GE explains.

The corporate lists gentle weight, bigger payloads, lengthy vary, and fast refueling as benefits in comparison with battery-powered vehicles, over and above the carbon footprint financial savings in comparison with diesel vehicles.

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Picture: F-MAX zero emission gasoline cell truck to be manufactured by the Turkish agency Ford Otosan.