GOING GLOBAL
HYDROGEN COMBUSTION ENGINE VS FUEL CELL
PowerTorque’s European Correspondent, Will Shiers, takes a look at two very different hydrogen trucks with the same end goal.
T
o tackle the stringent European Union CO2 emissions standards that come into play in 2025 (a 15 per cent reduction) and 2030 (a 30 per cent reduction), truck makers are rapidly developing their zero tailpipe emissions vehicles. While most seem to agree that battery electric trucks will play a considerable
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role in cleaning up urban deliveries, the cost and weight penalties of batteries seriously restricts their suitability for long-haul transport. For this, it is widely accepted that hydrogen gas (H2) will play a significant role. But, as I discovered on two recent press trips, the manufacturers are divided on how best to use hydrogen. It appears that a
VHS versus Betamax battle is on the cards. The two methods in competition are hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICEs). The former uses a fuel cell to convert stored hydrogen to electricity, which powers an electric motor. It works in conjunction with a small battery.
