Chinese automaker launches fuel cell truck

A Chinese heavy vehicles manufacturer has added a new truck to its portfolio powered by a hydrogen fuel system.

China’s Beiben Trucks Group has recently launched a hydrogen-powered truck of a 100kW fuel cell system. The truck is intended to be used as a street sweeper. Beiben has produced the truck at its plant in Baotou in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The heavy vehicle has special hydrogen cylinders (4x210L) installed for hydrogen storage, lasting more than 350 km. It uses a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells technology for power generation with a power rating of 150kW and a power density of 3.5kW/L. The technology is reported to be jointly developed with Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The vehicle is also claimed to be operating in cold temperatures of bellow 30C, making the vehicle ideal for freezing winter in the region. The vehicle is also installed with a 40Ah rare-earth nickel hydride power battery.

Beiben said it would pursue fuel cell technology for its trucks with expansion to other applications.