Three announcements this week gives the impression that alt-power is developing fast in Europe. Westport, Volvo and Mercedes Benz are involved in new initiatives.
Hydrogen ICE Trial Goes Ahead
Westport Fuel Systems has announced the successful completion of a heavy transport demonstration with its H2 High Pressure Direct Injection fuel system equipped prototype truck hauling a refrigerated trailer in Madrid, Spain.
The demo marks the first of its kind in Spain, representing an important step forward in the decarbonisation of trucking in the country. The demo was made possible by Mercadona, a leading Spanish supermarket chain, who successfully implemented the test by carrying out a distribution service in Madrid, Spain.
The project is a collaboration between Westport, Disírmur, a transport and logistics company, Enagás’ subsidiary Scale Gas, an energy infrastructure company and Versallis Tech Services, a hydrogen and renewable energy services operation
“We unquestionably need affordable heavy-duty hydrogen fuelled trucks to help our customers like Mercadona achieve their transport decarbonisation goals, said Juan J. Sanchez, CEO of Disfrimur. “Trucks equipped with Westport’s H2 HPDI fuel system are the solution to our needs today; a technology that is affordable and fits our operational needs, powered by hydrogen. We believe that truck manufacturers should offer this type of high efficiency, hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty vehicle.”
Recharging Infrastructure Network Launched
A national network of public fast chargers for heavy electric trucks is opening in Sweden. The charging network is powered by renewable energy. A new service from Volvo Trucks lets transport operators easily find and access public charging stations for trucks, regardless of brand.
A network for fast charging of electric trucks is a key part of the transition to more sustainable heavy transportation. In Sweden, some 130 charging stations in total are planned to open in 2023 and 2024. The stations are operated by several different companies, and Volvo Trucks is one of the partners involved.
Volvo Trucks is now launching a new service that lets haulers find and access the charging stations. The service will first be launched in Sweden, with other markets in Europe and other parts of the world to follow.
This is how Volvo Trucks’ charging service works:
- The charging service is part of Volvo Connect, Volvo Trucks’ interface for digital services.
- The customer can find and pay for the charging via Volvo Connect and a mobile app. A digital map shows the charging stations and if they are available. In the near future booking of charging time will be possible.
- When arriving at a charging station, the customer uses a card or a mobile app for identification and to start the charging.
- The customer receives one, consolidated invoice.
eActros 600 Launched in Germany
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has unveiled the production version of its first battery-electric long-haul truck, the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600.
The high battery capacity of more than 600 kilowatt hours, hence the model designation 600, and a new, efficient electric drive axle developed in-house, enable the e-truck to achieve a range of 500 kilometres without intermediate charging.
The eActros 600 will be able to travel significantly more than 1,000 kilometres per day. This is made possible by intermediate charging during the legally prescribed driver breaks, even without megawatt fast charging.
Around 60 percent of long-distance journeys of Mercedes-Benz Trucks customers in Europe are shorter than 500 kilometres, which means charging infrastructure at the depot and at the loading and unloading points is sufficient in such cases.
For all other uses, continual expansion of public charging infrastructure is vital in order to make the electric truck viable for long-distance haulage across Europe. The batteries can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes at a suitable charging station with an output of around one megawatt. The vehicle is designed for a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes.
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