Volvo Trucks is stepping up its game by developing trucks with engines that run on hydrogen. They plan to start testing these hydrogen-powered trucks on the road in 2026, with a commercial launch aimed for the end of this decade. These trucks are part of Volvo’s goal to reach net zero emissions and help their customers reduce their carbon footprints.
Hydrogen trucks offer a great way to cut down on pollution. They are especially useful for long-distance travel and in places where charging electric batteries is tough. Volvo’s new hydrogen trucks will complement their existing electric and renewable fuel-powered options, like battery electric trucks and trucks that run on biogas and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).
Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management and Quality at Volvo Trucks, said, “These trucks will be a great addition to our battery electric trucks, which have been on the market for several years.”
Volvo’s hydrogen trucks could achieve net zero CO2 emissions when using renewable HVO as an ignition fuel. This means they will be classified as “Zero Emission Vehicles” (ZEV) under new EU CO2 emission standards.
“It’s clear that we need different technologies to reduce emissions in heavy transport. As a global truck maker, we need to offer various solutions so our customers can choose what works best for them, depending on their needs and local infrastructure,” said Hjelmgren.
Volvo’s hydrogen-powered trucks will use High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI). This technology injects a small amount of fuel under high pressure to ignite the hydrogen, making the engine more efficient and powerful while using less fuel.
Volvo Group has teamed up with Westport Fuel Systems to create a joint venture to use HPDI technology. They expect this joint venture to start operating in the second quarter of 2024.
Key Points:
- Hydrogen-powered Volvo trucks will have a range similar to many diesel trucks.
- These trucks are considered “Zero Emission Vehicles” under new EU standards because of their low CO2 emissions.
- They will also emit very small amounts of nitrogen oxides and particles.
- Hydrogen can also power fuel cell electric trucks, which produce electricity on board and only emit water vapor.
Volvo’s move to hydrogen-powered trucks is a big step towards cleaner, greener transportation, offering a promising future for the trucking industry.