SEA Electric And Toyota Team Up For Electric Trucks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on AuManufacturing.
These are the introductory paragraphs.
Toyota’s Hino truck division has announced a major foray into electric and hydrogen powered trucks, with Melbourne’s SEA Electric set to partner in the development of a new medium sized truck.
SEA Electric manufactures electric vehicle drive trains in Melbourne and has been converting Hino truck models to electric here and in the United States.
Now the company will partner with Hino in its global Project Z which will expand its range of largely diesel trucks.
It appears that electric and hydrogen powered vehicles are being developed.
This paragraph describes the powertrain.
Running the SEA Drive 120 a powertrain, it is mounted on on a cab/chassis platform. The 1470Nm electric motor and 136kWh battery pack delivers range of up to 350km (220 miles), and a typical breakeven period of less than 4 years.
They also claim to have eliminated the need for a battery cooling system.
Conclusion
I am drawn to these conclusions.
It seems that there are scores of small companies all over the world developing battery and hydrogen power systems for trucks, buses and trains.
As with SEA Electric and Hino, big manufacturers are often happy to tie up with smaller technology companies to create new products.
Carnot – Is This The Next Generation Of Hydrogen Technology?
I first heard about Carnot on the crowdfunding site I use.
On this page on their web site, they talk about disruptive technology and say this.
The off-grid energy and long-haul transport sectors, unregulated until the last decade, must be net zero by 2050. Battery technology is unsuitable due to cost and weight. Hydrogen technology is considered to be the only viable solution to decarbonising these sectors. Carnot power units will have greater efficiency, lower total cost of ownership and greater range, reliability and durability than fuel cells. They are the key to unlocking a hydrogen future while minimising the impact to supply chains.
I have put a bet of a grand on this company, just in case it does turn out to be the next generation of hydrogen technology.
Birmingham Announces Hydrogen Bus Pilot
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on SmartCitiesWorld.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The city council has bought 20 new hydrogen double-decker buses as part of its Clean Air Hydrogen Bus Pilot to kick-start the hydrogen market as a viable zero-emission fuel.
The buses will be built by Wrightbus.
Waste-to-Hydrogen Project Set For California
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Power Magazine.
This is the introductory paragraph.
A California company that produces renewable hydrogen has joined with a Louisiana construction group on a project to build a modular waste-to-hydrogen production facility.
These are some further points.
- The Californian company; Ways2H, also has a project in Japan.
- They aim to setup a pipeline of projects in 2021.
- The California Energy Commission has said the state is short of green hydrogen.
- The process can use paper and plastic waste or municipal solid waste.
- They can also handle medicinal waste.
- The systems appear to be transportable.
This paragraph is from the article.
Kindler said his company could produce “white hydrogen,” because the company’s process, which uses very high temperatures to turn waste plastics, wood, rubber and other biomass into gas and a carbon solid, can be used to sequester carbon dioxide and store it underground.
It looks to me, that if they make this system work, they will have found an alternative way to make hydrogen, by a zero-carbon method.
Conclusion
Could we see one of these plants in every local authority in the world to process all their waste into hydrogen?
I suspect in Ways2H’s plan for world domination, this is one of their objectives.
Glasgow To Roll Out ‘World’s Largest’ Fleet Of Hydrogen-Powered Refuse Trucks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Cities Today.
Some points from the article.
- There will be nineteen trucks.
- The project is a joint venture between Scottish Power Renewables, BOC and ITM Power.
I think that refuse trucks could be a large application of hydrogen.
Toyota, Hitachi, JR East To Jointly Develop Hydrogen-Powered Trains
The title of this post, is the same as that of yjis article on The Mainichi.
This is the first two paragraphs.
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Toyota Motor Corp., Hitachi Ltd. and East Japan Railway Co. said Tuesday they will jointly develop hydrogen-powered trains as part of their efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
The three companies have agreed to collaborate on development of test railway vehicles equipped with hybrid systems that use hydrogen-fuel cells and storage batteries as their source of power.
It appears that Toyota will provide the fuel cell technology.
All Aboard The Bamford Hydrogen Bus Revolution
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Air Quality News.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Air Quality News editor Jamie Hailstone talks to JCB heir and hydrogen advocate, Jo Bamford, about why it is the fuel of the future for buses.
It is a good read, as Jo Bamford details his vision to change public transport with thousands of hydrogen-powered buses.
He talks in a common-sense manner, about the economics and practicalities of zero emission buses, of which this paragraph is typical.
‘I have a bus manufacturing business,’ he adds. ‘We make a diesel bus, a battery double-decker and a hydrogen double-decker. A battery double-decker will do 60% of the distance of a diesel bus and take 4.5 hours to charge. A hydrogen bus will do the same distance as a diesel bus and take seven minutes to fill up. If you are running a bus for 22 hours a day, you can’t afford to charge them up for 4.5 hours a day.
Jo Bamford finishes with.
I think hydrogen is a sexy, cool thing to be looking at.
I agree with him and we should get started on lots of hydrogen buses and their hydrogen supply network.
As I wrote in Daimler Trucks Presents Technology Strategy For Electrification – World Premiere Of Mercedes-Benz Fuel-Cell Concept Truck, Mercedes are going the hydrogen route with big trucks and these trucks will need a hydrogen supply network to be built in the UK.
So surely, we should look at decarbonisation of buses and heavy trucks in an holistic way, by creating that hydrogen supply network in the UK.
Ryze have now obtained planning permission for their first big electrolyser at Herne Bay and it now has its own web site, which includes this video, explaining Ryze Hydrogen’s philosophy.
Let’s hope that this first electrolyser, grows into the network the country needs.
Dutch Province To Introduce Regular Hydrogen Services
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the International Railway Journal.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The regional transport authority in the Dutch province of Groningen has announced plans to introduce hydrogen trains for its regional concession following a successful test earlier this year.
In March 2019, I went to Groningen and explored the railways in the area, where Stadler GTW trains are used for the train services.
These trains are a smaller version of Greater Anglia’s Class 755 trains.
In The Train Station At The Northern End Of The Netherlands, I describe a visit to Eemshaven station to the North of Groningen.
I said this.
At the turnround at Eemshaven with the driver, he indicated that there had been speculation about battery and hydrogen trains in the North of The Netherlands.
It appears the driver was right.
The Bridge Over The Ems
The article also indicates that the bridge over the River Ems, that I wrote about in From Groningen To Leer By Train, could be opening soon.
This video shows what the new bridge will look like.
And this Google Map shows the current state of the bridge.
I’m not sure of the date of the picture, but there still appears a lot of work to do.
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.
Hydrogen-Powered Train Makes UK Maiden Journey
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is said in the article.
A hydrogen-powered train has travelled on Britain’s rail network for the first time.
The prototype, called the Hydroflex, made a 25-mile round trip through Warwickshire and Worcestershire, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph.
Its next phase is to move the hydrogen tanks, fuel cell and battery out of a carriage and stash them underneath the train.
The aim is for the train to start carrying paying passengers by the end of 2021.
Note that the article contains a broadcast-quality video.
There are now two hydrogen-powered trains in development in the UK.
- This Class 799 train by Birmingham University and Porterbrook, which has been converted from a Class 319 train.
- The Class 600 train by Alstom, which is being converted from a Class 321 trains.
Both the trains being converted are British Rail trains based on the Mark 3 coach design.
- They were built originally in the 1980s and 1990s.
- They were built for commuting over medium distances.
- They are 100 mph trains.
- They will keep their pantographs, so running using 25 KVAC overhead electrification.
Both trains could be fitted with quality interiors.
But from what has been disclosed the designs will be quite different.
- The Class 799 train will be four cars, as opposed to three cars of the Class 600 train.
- The Class 600 trains will have large hydrogen tanks inside the train, whereas the Class 799 train will have smaller ones underneath the train.
- I would expect the Class 600 train to have a longer range between refuelling.
- The Class 799 train will also be a tri-mode train, with the ability to use 750 VDC third-rail electrification.
As there are nearly over a hundred Class 321 trains and nearly ninety Class 319 trains, if the hydrogen conversion is successful, we could be seeing a lot of hydrogen trains on the UK rail network.
The Anonymous Widower 