In a recent test drive of the first hydrogen truck on Aussie roads, it was the first opportunity to have a look at what the driving experience of a fuel cell truck might be like. The Taurus from HDrive and Pure Hydrogen is an Australian adaptation of a truck developed in China.
It’s a 220kW (299hp) 6×2 prime mover, with a lifting tag axle, which will go on trial with PepsiCo. It will only be handling relatively light loads, hauling trailers loaded with potato crisps. The task it will be covering is an urban low mileage one, therefore , it is only fitted with four hydrogen tanks.
Getting going in the Taurus is simple enough. The driver puts their foot on the brake, presses the button to their right for drive. Releases the park brake, again on the right, all that’s needed is to apply the accelerator and then take off. There is a buzzing sound, the regulations say an electric vehicle travelling at less than 15 km/h has to make a noise to warn pedestrians.
Touching the brake activates regenerative braking and the actual service brakes don’t kick in until the pedal has been applied to about 30 per cent. The feel for the driver is very similar to braking a normal truck, the retardation feels smooth and seamless, between electric retardation and actual service brakes.
From the driver’s seat, the driving experience is no different to that of driving an electric truck. The only difference being the source of the power in the battery which powers the electric motor propelling the truck.
Bringing in the technology
Ben Kiddle is the General Manager of H-drive, which has a manufacturing agreement with a company in China called Wisdom (Fujian) Motor Co. The Wisdom company is a 100 per cent zero emissions vehicle manufacturer, building fuel cell and electric vehicles.
Wisdom’s hydrogen vehicle products use Ballard fuel cell technology, supplied by the Weichai-Ballard Joint Venture in China, and Ballard is a shareholder in Wisdom to develop the relationship further.
The Wisdom company website in China claims a range of 1,000km for some of its vehicles, which is attainable with the 12 145 litre hydrogen tanks, that’s 1,740 litres of hydrogen in total. H-drive approaches the subject in a much less hyperbolic way, offering practical options and realistic specifications.
H-drive in Australia has specified the Taurus to meet our vehicle design regulations, like 6.5 tonnes on the front axle, Ben reckons the operation is developing other vehicle models and configurations including the HP 70 model, which will cover 70 tonne B-double configuration, and there are also sideloader refuse trucks and cement agitators in the pipeline.
The next truck from H-drive is due to be a 50 tonnes GCM model. For the 70 tonne GCM model being built, power rating is expected to be set at 440kW (598hp), the 50 tonne model will be rated at 300kW (408hp). The on board battery can be rated up to 60kWh. All trucks come with front air suspension.
“A discussion point which should be top priority within the Australian Government, should be that local hydrogen fuel manufacturing, bolstering Australian jobs and the economy, supporting the launch of our zero emissions technology and de-risking global fuel shortages,” said Ben, at the launch. “Currently, we import the majority of our liquid fuel stocks into Australia, and in my view, this is a huge risk to our supply chain, economy and livelihood.
“We should be supporting our future with green technology supported by local fuels to de-risk our transport and commercial logistics sectors, as a starting point, it just makes sense. Queensland’s roadmap to zero emissions will be supported by H-drive and Pure Hydrogen to deploy these solutions. With the first vehicle operated by green logistics leaders, PepsiCo, it is great to see this project coming to life.”
Credit: Source link
