Abstract
Heavy-duty trucks feature prominently in this issue, as this vehicle application continues to attract growing global interest – and this issue doesn't even have any items on the numerous truck deployments in China [e.g. FCB, January 2020, p11 or August 2019, p10].
The biggest story is the new joint venture between Daimler Truck and Volvo, which will develop, produce and commercialise fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles in the late 2020s [page 1]. Daimler Truck will combine all group-wide fuel cell activities in the new operation, while Volvo will pay some €600 million for a half-stake.
In Japan, Toyota and Hino Motors, its commercial vehicle subsidiary, will jointly develop a heavy-duty fuel cell electric truck – based on the Hino Profia 25 tonne truck – and push it through verification tests [page 4].
In the US, Hyzon Motors is establishing a heavy vehicle integration facility in New York State [page 4], with work expected to start in the summer (coronavirus permitting, as the NY region has been a Covid-19 hotspot). Featuring fuel cells supplied by Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, Hyzon plans to introduce buses and trucks in late 2020, and vans and other vehicles from 2021.
Another Daimler subsidiary, Mitsubishi Fuso in Japan, aims to start series production of fuel cell trucks by the late 2020s [page 4]. It has further developed its Vision F-CELL light-duty fuel cell concept truck into the eCanter F-CELL concept truck.
Hydrogen Europe has announced a ‘joint call’ for the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell trucks, to show that the supply side is preparing to deploy these vehicles [page 5]. This focuses on key components such as storage tanks and fuel cell systems, as well as hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and is supported by 43 major companies across the whole supply chain.
At a corporate level, Cummins has made an additional cash investment in Loop Energy, which will support the latter in its aim to become a leading provider of fuel cell range-extenders for medium- and heavy-duty transport applications [page 13]. Also, Nikola is merging with VectoIQ in order to accelerate commercialisation of its portfolio of battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, in particular Class 8 semi-trailer trucks [page 13]. The deal will accelerate vehicle production, and allow construction to begin on its Arizona manufacturing facility. And Nuvera Fuel Cells has commercially launched its Nuvera E-45 fuel cell engine for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle applications, which is designed to facilitate easy integration into vehicle platforms, with ready access for maintenance [page 14].