There is a real urgency to decarbonise the most heavily polluting sector of the transport sector. HGVs make up 7% of all road traffic yet emit 22% of the CO2.
The British Government aims to ban the sales of all non-zero emission HGV’s (3.5 -26t) by 2035 or earlier and curtail the sales of all non-zero emission HGVs over 26t (Artics) by 2040.
So, the race is on to develop a viable alternative to the diesel trucks that form the backbone of the haulage industry.
Green hydrogen-powered trucks provide both the long-distance range and the rapid refuelling ability required by the sector – two key factors that battery-only trucks can’t offer.
Glasgow-based HVS (Hydrogen Vehicle Systems) is ahead of the game. HVS has designed and developed a fully working zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell technology demonstrator as a precursor to the UKs first full-sized hydrogen-electric HGV – set to be launched early in 2023. The vehicle is totally new from the ground up, based on bespoke architecture representing a total shift in truck design, with further benefits in terms of driver comfort and visibility.
Thanks to £30M investment from EG Group HVS is well financed and in pole position to disrupt the truck sector. EG Group, backed by the Issa brothers, ensures a route to market via customers within its group and crucially, H2 refuelling infrastructure thanks to its experience in the petrol station industry.
On the 9th November HVS revealed its afore mentioned technology demonstrator to showcase its fully functional hydrogen-electric powertrain. This is the same powertrain it will be using on its 40 tonne Articulated Tractor unit.
HVS will be first to market with its state-of-the-art all-new powertrain and will build its vehicles in the UK with its first HGV set to go on sale in 2025.