The Anonymous Widower

Daimler Trucks Presents Technology Strategy For Electrification – World Premiere Of Mercedes-Benz Fuel-Cell Concept Truck

This title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Daimler Global Media Site.

These are the opening bullet points.

• Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, a fuel-cell truck with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and more for flexible and demanding long-haul transport – customer trials in 2023, start of series production in second half of this decade.
• Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul, a battery-electric truck with a range of about 500 kilometers for energy-efficient transport on plannable long-haul routes – projected to be ready for series production in 2024.
• Mercedes-Benz eActros, a battery-electric truck with a range of well over 200 kilometers for heavy urban distribution to go into series production in 2021.
• ePowertrain global platform architecture offers synergies and economies of scale.

Judging by the spelling, this media copy, is from the bad spellers of Trumpland.

It looks to be a case of Daimler have called up the heavy brigade.

The best way to learn more is to search for “Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck”

There’s some good YouTube videos.

From this video, I ascertained the following.

• The truck has a stainless steel tank for liquid hydrogen on either side between the front and rear wheels.
• There are two 150 kW fuel cells, which appear to be of an inhouse Mercedes design.
• There is a 70 kWh battery between the two liquid hydrogen tanks low down in the middle of the truck.
• The battery can supply 400 kW, if needed.

This screen capture shows a cutaway from the video.

I am impressed by the design.

• Everything is fitted neatly in the small space.
• The design doesn’t seem to intrude into the load space, so I would assume, it would work with all existing trailers and bodies.
• The battery position must help stability and driveability.
• It looks like a design, that would be friendly to cyclists, as the hydrogen tanks act as a round safety barrier.

I shall look at the operation.

Consider.

• The current Actros trucks have engines with a power of up to 500 HP or 400 kW.
• The 70 kWh battery can provide 400 kW for about 10 minutes.
• Regenerative braking to the battery must be possible.
• There’s probably a well-programmed computer between the driver and the electric transmission.

I wouldn’t be surprised that the truck is more of a battery-hydrogen hybrid, than a pure hydrogen truck.

Suppose, it was hauling a heavy load from Felixstowe to Manchester.

• Will the truck charge the battery before it leaves Felixstowe? It could use the fuel cells or be plugged in to a high-performance charger. 70 kWh, is not the biggest of batteries compared to say those on a train.
• Once on the A45 (Sorry! A14), it would accelerate quickly to the cruising speed, probably using mostly battery power.
• It would then cruise mainly using hydrogen and the fuel cells to the destination. The truck would be optimised for an economic cruise.
• During any deceleration, regenerative braking to the battery would be used.
• Battery power might be called upon on any inclines or after a stop.

Intriguingly, a range of 1000 kilometres or 620 miles would allow many out-and-bank journeys in the UK, France, Germany or Italy to be performed without refuelling.

Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle are all under 300 miles from the Suffolk port.

Conclusion

I used to part-own a company, that financed trucks, moving loads into and out of Felixstowe in the 1980s.

From what I learned then of the heavy truck market, hydrogen-powered heavy trucks are going to be a winner, especially, if most journeys are out-and-back from one end.

October 2, 2020 - Posted by AnonW | Design, Hydrogen | Hydrogen-Powered Trucks, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, Regenerative Braking, Trucks