Ballard, Roush, Linamar work on fuel cell delivery vans project

Linamar Corporation (Canada’s second-largest automobile parts manufacturer) has partnered with Roush CleanTech and Ballard Power Systems to develop four fuel cell eclectic vehicle (FCEV) package delivery vans UPS for an in-revenue service demonstration in California, US. The four FCEV delivery vans will be delivered by April 2021.

Linamar has been working on this project and is at the evaluation stage with the Centre for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) under the Next Generation Fuel Cell Delivery Van Deployment Project for the California Air Resources Board (Carb).

This second-generation eAxle for Class 4-6 commercial vehicles builds upon their earlier DOE program’s success for a Class 6 HEV delivery vehicle. The new Gen 2.0 eAxle uses a beam axle design with low NVH helical gears. Its single-speed, single-motor design delivers 200 kW and 11,400 Nm to the rear axle for excellent performance.

Dan Raudebaugh, executive director of CTE, said, “The strength of CTE’s project lies in its team member experience with advanced vehicle manufacturing, utilisation of proven, off-the-shelf components, participation of UPS as the fleet operator and deployment partner, and the propulsion system’s commercialisation potential.”

Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz said, “Linamar is excited by the market opportunities in supplying electrified vehicles and has significantly increased its portfolio of products specific for an electric mobility future including full eAxle systems to power next-generation vehicle propulsion systems.”

Todd Mouw, president of Roush CleanTech, said, “Roush’s expertise in clean mobility solutions is supported by decades of engineering, vehicle controls and integration experience with many of the major OEMs.”

Randy MacEwen, Ballard President and CEO, said, “Ballard’s industry-leading experience in the manufacture of fuel cell systems for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Motive applications includes powering Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles for more than 75 million km to date.”

CTE is a non-profit, Atlanta-based organisation that develops, promotes and implements advanced transportation technologies. The Carb Project includes developing, validating and deploying four fuel cell hybrid electric delivery vans under the California Climate Investments programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Roush CleanTech supplies the overall vehicle and system design, integration, build and commissioning for the fuel cell electric vehicles. Ballard Power Systems, which provides fuel cell power technology, is designed to integrate with the eAxle and battery systems in the Ford F-59 chassis to create the hydrogen-powered FCEV with 150-mile range targeted driving cycles.