Big players seem to be seriously talking to each other about hydrogen

Big players seem to actually carry out some practical initiatives in order to boost the development of hydrogen solutions for a more sustainable mobility (about this, have a look at our scheduled web events). Now, the news is that some of the largest global groups putting in place actions that, hopefully, will soon have very concrete results.

Let’s start with the H2Accelerate project, a new collaborative platform aimed at introducing zero-emission hydrogen trucks to the mass market. Among the promoters of the initiative are big names such as Daimler Truck, Iveco, Omv, Shell and Volvo Group, which aim to accelerate the complete decarbonisation of the truck sector.

Big players together for hydrogen: the example of H2Accelerate

According to the official statement, «H2A participants believe that synchronized investments across the sector during the 2020s will create the conditions for the mass market roll-out of hydrogen fuelled heavy-duty transportation which is required to meet the European ambition of net zero emissions by 2050».

«The decade long scale-up is expected to begin with groups of customers willing to make an early commitment to hydrogen-based trucking. These fleets are expected to operate in regional clusters and along European high capacity corridors with good refuelling station coverage. During the decade, these clusters can then be interconnected to build a truly pan-European network».

From Sweden: PowerCell to cooperate with…

Something big is moving, however, also in the field of agricultural machinery. From Sweden, fuel cell manufacturer PowerCell Sweden recently announced that it has received an order to supply two MS-100 fuel cell systems from a U.S. agricultural machinery manufacturer. The name of the customer is confidential, although some clues, following the news of our industry, can be obtained.

In any case, according to the official communication of the Scandinavian company, will be used to test an electrification of tractors using fuel cells and hydrogen. PowerCell also announced that it is working with several partners to develop hydrogen-related projects in the marine and stationary sectors.

Toyota and fuel cells at European level

We will soon talk about Cummins’ ambitious plans (a thorough report will be published on the next issue of Diesel International). Now another giant, this time in the automotive sector, is taking important steps forward on the road to hydrogen. We are talking about Toyota, whose number one, Mr Toyoda, at the end of last year had expressed strong doubts about electric cars, opening a very interesting debate because it came from within the first automotive group in the world as production volumes and market shares.

Toyota has announced the establishment of a new European group for the development of fuel cells, with the desire to «make available to business partners the advanced technology of fuel cells to facilitate the development of a hydrogen society».

The group is based in Brussels and aims to strengthen interest in the introduction of hydrogen-based technology in mobility and other sectors by making it accessible to new partners.

«Toyota’s Fuel Cell technology is characterized by its flexibility in that it can be used not only for cars but in a range of other zero-emission applications, such as trucks, buses, forklifts and generators. Testing is currently underway for its use in boats and trains as well», reports the official communication from Toyota Motor Europe.