Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) has just launched a commercial vehicle design using fuel cells. The hydrogen powertrain is showcased in the form of a 5.5-tonne technology demonstrator.
Glasgow, UK-based HVS said the demonstrators offered clues about the company’s planned zero emission HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) 40 tonnes.
HVS claims the fuel cell truck will have the capacity to cover a distance of more than 500 km although it depends on the route traveled, road conditions and driving style.
The company claims it will be “the UK’s first genuine Hydrogen HGV, designed and built from the ground up.”
The HVS tractor unit will be built on a new chassis, which is designed itself around a hydrogen powertrain. It consists of a pressurized hydrogen cylinder, a fuel cell, an energy storage system and an eAxle.
Currently, the Glasgow-based company appears to be in the planning stages saying it is undertaking development work at Horiba MIRA, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. HVS said they “envision opening an R&D, pilot and pilot production facility in the Midlands, taking advantage of the region’s strong traditional motor industry skills base, in addition to a permanent UK-based production facility.”
So far, the Scottish company has been supported in vehicle development with funding from Innovate UK, Scottish Enterprise and the Energy Technology Partnership. HVS also has a strategic investment partner with a service station and wholesale company, EG Group, which is able to offer hydrogen fueling infrastructure, fleet customer base and global scalability potential.
The company has not disclosed a schedule for production. On its website, HVS says it has received significant interest from potential customers during the development phase of the vehicle with current pre-orders of over 400 units.
