Following the completion of a multi-stakeholder analysis venture aimed toward breaking new floor in hydrogen know-how, Volvo Building Gear (Volvo CE) has began testing of the world’s first fuel-cell articulated hauler prototype, the Volvo HX04. The outcomes of the venture will present essential insights into the chances supplied by hydrogen and gasoline cells as Volvo CE continues analysis for its future product growth applications.
Apart from battery-electric options, the place Volvo CE is already providing the most important vary of economic merchandise, the corporate’s work into sustainable energy sources additionally consists of exploring the potential of electrification by way of hydrogen gasoline cell know-how. Now, an essential milestone has been reached with the testing of the hydrogen HX04.
The Volvo HX04 is the results of a analysis venture operating between 2018 and 2022, with funding from FFI, a nationwide collaboration between the Swedish Innovation Company VINNOVA, Swedish Power Company, and Swedish Transport Administration, to assist sustainable automobile strategic analysis, innovation and growth. Companions embody Volvo CE, RISE Analysis Institutes of Sweden, who supplied specialist competence on driveline growth and security, and PowerCell Sweden, a developer of gasoline cell-based hydrogen-electric energy options.
The event and constructing of the six-wheel prototype has largely been carried out at Volvo CE’s facility in Braås, Sweden—the identical location the place Gravel Charlie, the world’s first articulated hauler, was born again in 1966, giving the Volvo HX04 the nickname “Electrical Charlie”. Engineers on the Expertise Heart in Eskilstuna, Sweden, have contributed with software program growth and data gathered by way of its gasoline cell take a look at lab. Whereas not commercially accessible, priceless insights from the idea will inevitably inform future manufacturing.
Infrastructure for hydrogen remains to be in growth, which implies refueling the Volvo HX04 is a crucial side to unravel within the venture. Shell put in a state-of-the-art hydrogen refueling station on the Volvo CE take a look at observe in Braås. Each Shell and Volvo Group are founding members of H2Accelerate, a collaboration of firms working to foster circumstances for the mass market roll-out of hydrogen vehicles in Europe.
The fueling course of for hydrogen autos is quick—the Volvo HX04 is charged with 12 kg hydrogen in about 7.5 minutes, enabling it to function for about 4 hours.
