Fuel cell trucks powered by hydrogen, which emit only water vapour, will be an important part of Volvo Trucks' emissions-free product portfolio. The vehicles have now reached an important milestone: they are being tested on public roads.
Last year, Volvo Trucks presented its electric trucks with fuel cells for the first time.
These emission-free trucks use hydrogen to produce their own on-board electricity
and are suitable for deployment over longer distances.
Now the trucks have been tested on public roads for the first time. But not just any public road;
to make it extra challenging, the tests were conducted above the Arctic Circle in northern
Sweden - in an extremely cold climate.
"The trucks run seven days a week and in all weather conditions. The tough
situations on public roads in northern Sweden, with ice, wind and lots of snow, provide an ideal
testing environment," says Helena Alsiö, Vice President Powertrain Product Management at Volvo
Trucks. "I am happy to say that the tests went well and that the results confirm
what we tested beforehand, both digitally and on our private test track near Gothenburg
tested."
The hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks (FCEV) will be particularly suitable
for longer distances and when using battery electric trucks (BEV) is not an option
is an option, for example in rural areas without charging infrastructure.
Commercially available in the second half of this decade
Volvo currently offers the widest range of battery-electric
trucks (BEV) in the industry, suitable for a wide variety of transports in and between cities.
Fuel cell electric trucks (FCEV) will be
available. Tests with carriers will start several years before the commercial launch
start.
To accelerate development, Volvo Group has joined forces with Daimler to
develop and produce customised fuel cell systems for vehicles for
long-distance transport and heavier duty operations."
