Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - October 2020 - 19

ELECTRIFICATION FEATURE

Ballard's 8th-gen FCmove fuel-cell module powers heavy-duty
motive applications like buses, commercial trucks and trains.

FROM LEFT: GM; CNW GROUP/BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS

Nikola will utilize General Motors'
Ultium battery system and Hydrotec
fuel-cell technology (shown) across
its vehicle programs.
Traditional OEMs Kenworth and Toyota have partnered for years
now to develop HFC versions of the T680 Class-8 model. The third
iteration of the hydrogen-powered semi-truck was demonstrated at
the Port of Los Angeles on Earth Day in 2019. The original diesel engine that displaced either 12.9 L or 10.8 L was replaced with two solid
polymer electrolyte fuel-cell stacks that are exactly like the one used
in the Mirai passenger car. (More at www.sae.org/news/2019/06/toyota-fuel-cell-semi-truck)
The world's first Class-6 HFCEV, developed by fuel-cell system supplier Plug Power and Colorado-based electric drivetrain manufacturer
Lightning Systems, is expected to be commercially available in the
third quarter of 2020. Built off the Chevrolet Low Cab Forward
6500XD platform, the truck will be powered by a 90-kW fuel-cell system comprised of three 30-kW modules running in parallel. Maximum
range capability is an estimated 400 miles (644 km). (See www.sae.
org/news/2020/05/producing-class-6-fuel-cell-electric-trucks)
Cummins showcased a hydrogen fuel cell 6x4 day cab tractor at the
2019 North American Commercial Vehicle Show that's suitable for vocational applications like regional haul and urban delivery. The technology demonstrator was designed and integrated in Columbus, Indiana,
and includes a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell from
Hydrogenics, a recent acquisition of Cummins. The truck was designed
for a 90-kW fuel cell and is scalable in 30- or 45-kW increments up to
180 kW; it also has a 100-kWh lithium-ion battery capacity. Other fuelcell activities for Cummins include a memorandum of understanding
with Hyundai Motor Co. to collaborate on HFC technology across commercial markets in North America and an investment in Loop Energy, a
Canada-based provider of fuel-cell-electric range extenders.
Another Canadian company making headway in commercial heavyand medium-duty applications is Ballard Power Systems, which announced in August that its PEM fuel-cell technology and products have
now accumulated more than 50 million km (31 million miles) on roads
in 15 countries, an increase of more than five times since 2017. This includes about 1,000 fuel-cell-electric buses and 2,200 commercial
trucks. Ballard launched its 8th-generation power module in 2019.
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

Hydrogen Europe
In Europe, the potential of HFCs is championed by
Hydrogen Europe (European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Association), which represents more than 160 industry
companies, 78 research organizations as well as 21 national associations. The association partners with the
European Commission in the innovation program Fuel
Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU).
Hydrogen Europe states that, ironically, although
hydrogen might be the most abundant element on
Earth, it can be found rarely in its pure form:
"Practically, this fact means that in order to produce
hydrogen, it needs to be extracted from its compound." It can be produced or extracted using virtually
any primary source of energy - fossil or renewable.
Nuclear energy is also on the list.
According to Hydrogen Europe: "This diversity of
potential supply sources is the most important reason
why hydrogen is such a promising energy carrier.
Although most of the world's hydrogen production
today is being produced through a more CO2-intensive
process called steam methane reforming (SMR), hydrogen can also be produced using a process that
makes use of renewable electricity, leading to the production of 'green' or CO2-neutral hydrogen."
Certainly "green" hydrogen manufacturing is what
environmentalists and HFCEV enthusiasts want. Yet,
significant commercial momentum remains lacking,
with unfulfilled potential credibility particularly for its
application to cars.

Switzerland
As in the U.S., many countries continue to at least
demonstrate the application of development HFC
technology. In Switzerland, there is an active approach
to hydrogen power with a focus on trucks. In July,
Hyundai shipped to the country the first 10 units of
October 2020 19

http://www.sae.org/news/2019/06/toyota-fuel-cell-semi-truck http://www.sae.org/news/2019/06/toyota-fuel-cell-semi-truck http://www.sae.org/news/2020/05/producing-class-6-fuel-cell-electric-trucks http://www.sae.org/news/2020/05/producing-class-6-fuel-cell-electric-trucks

Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - October 2020