Road tests with this type of vehicles that use the chemical in traditional internal combustion engines will begin in 2026, and their commercial launch is planned for the end of this decade.
Volvo Trucks is planning to start the Customer trials of trucks using hydrogen in combustion engines in 2026, and these will be commercially available towards the end of this decade. According to the company, tests are already being carried out both in laboratories and vehicles.
Hydrogen combustion engine trucks will complement Volvo’s range of optionswhich includes the battery electric trucks, fuel cell electric trucks, and trucks that run on renewable fuels such as biogas and HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil).
“Trucks that retain the traditional internal combustion engine but run on hydrogen, They will offer the same performance and reliability as our diesel trucks, but with the added advantage of potentially having net zero CO2 emissions. “They will be a valuable addition to our range of battery electric trucks, which have been on the market for several years,” he highlights. Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management and Quality at Volvo Trucks.
Volvo truck with combustion engine running on hydrogen_Original file(1).jpg
The Volvo trucks with hydrogen-powered combustion engines have the potential to emit zero CO2 emissions when using renewable HVO as the ignition fuel and will be classified as “Zero Emission Vehicles” (ZEV) under the new CO2 emission standards agreed in the EU.
“It is clear that several types of technology are needed to decarbonize heavy transportation. As a global truck manufacturer, we have to support our customers by offering them a variety of decarbonization solutions. Customers can choose the alternative that best suits their needs based on transportation allocation, available infrastructure and green energy prices,” explains Jan Hjelmgren.
The Volvo trucks with combustion engines powered by hydrogen will have high-pressure direct injection (HPDI), a technology that involves injecting a small amount of ignition fuel at high pressure to enable compression ignition before adding hydrogen. The advantages of this technology include greater energy efficiency with lower fuel consumption and greater engine power.
He Volvo Group signed an agreement with Westport Fuel Systems to create a joint venture using HPDI technology. This joint venture is expected to become operational in second quarter of 2024once its creation is formalized.
Volvo Trucks to launch hydrogen-powered trucks
- The trucks Volvo powered by hydrogen will have a autonomy comparable to that of many diesel trucks, depending on the type of transport.
- Thanks to the low emissions of CO2 coming from the combustion of hydrogenthese trucks are classified as “Zero emission vehicles” according to the new CO2 emission standards agreed in the EU.
- Furthermore, hydrogen combustion engines They will emit very small amounts of nitrogen oxides and particles.
- He hydrogen It can also be used to power fuel cell electric trucks, in which the electricity is produced on board the truck itself. Fuel cell electric trucks emit no exhaust gases, only water vapor.
Trucks running on green hydrogen represent a significant step towards the goal of Volvo to achieve net zero emissions and for customers to achieve their decarbonization goals.
Source: Ambito
I’m a recent graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. I started working as a news reporter for 24 Hours World about two years ago, and I’ve been writing articles ever since. My main focus is automotive news, but I’ve also written about politics, lifestyle, and entertainment.
