Hydrogen trucks put to the test: revolution in commercial transport?

Hydrogen trucks put to the test: revolution in commercial transport?

Something is happening in the area of ​​climate-friendly drive technologies in Groß-Umstadt! DLG TestService GmbH recently tested a fuel cell truck from the “SeLv” research project at RWTH Aachen University. The tests focused primarily on the performance and braking behavior of the hydrogen-powered vehicle. The results are of great importance for the transport transition in the commercial vehicle sector, because the traffic and transport sector is responsible for around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany, with a third of the emissions being caused by heavy commercial vehicles. According to gabot.de, the DLG offers a comprehensive service package for research and development, which also includes consumption measurements and simulations of driving conditions.

Without question, hydrogen drives are very popular! They not only promise a long range, but also a high payload - particularly important for emission-free long-distance transport. The “SeLv” project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital with around 16.9 million euros, could be a decisive step here. The modular drive train combines a fuel cell system with an electric drive unit, which underlines the innovative strength of this project.

Powerful and reliable

During tests on the all-wheel-drive roller dynamometer in Groß-Umstadt, the fuel cell truck achieved a continuous output of 385 kilowatts and even measured a peak output of 474 kilowatts. In the future, the output will be limited to around 410 kilowatts. For comparison: the original base vehicle, a Ford F-Max, has an output of 367 kilowatts. The project team is working to obtain an Individual Operating License (EBE) for the prototype, which is an important step towards series approval. So, the engineers at RWTH Aachen have a good knack for high-performance developments! This was also demonstrated when the truck demonstrated its hill-starting ability at the Aldenhoven Testing Center, where it mastered a gradient of 12% several times with a total weight of over 40 tons, as verkehrsrundschau.de reports.

The vehicle's thermal management also demonstrated reliable performance, withstanding temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius. Before the tests in Groß-Umstadt, the truck was also tested for electromagnetic compatibility in Waiblingen. Such tests are essential for the future of heavy-duty transport, and the research and development teams are doing everything they can to prove the suitability of fuel cells for everyday use in the transport sector.

Opportunities and challenges

However, market analyzes show that there are still some challenges to overcome before hydrogen trucks can gain a foothold in everyday life. According to the Fraunhofer ISI, cheaper hydrogen prices could be crucial in order to implement fuel cell trucks in specific fields of application, such as heavy-duty transport or in remote regions. There is also potential in cooperation with battery-electric trucks, although the market share of hydrogen-powered vehicles still remains uncertain.

Overall, it can be seen that the “SeLv” project is getting an important ball rolling for the development of environmentally friendly transport solutions. It remains exciting to see how the infrastructure for hydrogen drives will develop and how political decisions will influence market design in the coming years.