Hydrogen Heavy Duty Vehicle Industry Group to standardise hydrogen refuelling
The group efforts are a prime example of industry competitors working together towards a common goal of decarbonisation.
The Hydrogen Heavy Duty Vehicle Industry Group has signed agreements with Tatsuno Corporation and Transfer Oil Spa to industrialise globally-standard 70 MPa hydrogen heavy-duty vehicle high-flow (H70HF) fuelling hardware components.
The Hydrogen Heavy Duty Vehicle Industry Group was formed in February 2019 and comprised of Air Liquide, Hyundai, Nel Hydrogen, Nikola Corporation, Shell and Toyota.
The group goal is to address hydrogen fuelling hardware challenges of achieving the fuelling speeds that are needed for heavy-duty applications. It also aims to test and evaluate the hardware’s performance and standardise the connector design to ensure global adaptability.
The fueling hardware is anticipated to support average hydrogen fueling rates of 10kg/min, in line with the US DoE’s Technical Targets for Hydrogen-Fueled Long-Haul Tractor-Trailer Trucks. Testing is planned at an independent test facility and scheduled to commence in Q4 2021, with preliminary performance and safety results available in Q1 2022.
Nikola President, Energy and Commercial Pablo Koziner, said, “This innovative fueling technology will be an essential part of our hydrogen infrastructure development strategy, making hydrogen available to Nikola heavy-duty FCEV customers and the industry at large.”
Christian Appel, Nikola Global Chief Engineer Tre FCEV and Propulsion Engineering, said, “The development of this hardware is an integral part to enable projected fueling times competitive to diesel fueling times.”
In a speared development, Hyundai Motor North America (HMNA) has joined Equilon Enterprises LLC (Shell Hydrogen) to encourage the growth of the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in California. The agreement, Project Neptune, supports Shell Hydrogen’s construction of 48 additional and two upgraded hydrogen refuels beginning in 2021. Hyundai has committed to fueling cell vehicle sales growth, supporting the expanding hydrogen infrastructure.
