The Kenworth T680 on-highway flagship was the featured Class 8 truck at a major, zero emissions trucking event that featured more than 100 participants from government, industry, local community and the media held at the Port of Los Angeles.

Kenworth Truck Company and Toyota Motor North America are collaborating to develop 10 zero-emissions Kenworth T680s powered by Toyota hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains. The first new, jointly developed Kenworth/Toyota Fuel Cell Electric Truck (FCET) produced from the collaboration debuted at the event.

The effort is part of a $41 million Zero and Near-Zero Emissions Freight Facilities (ZANZEFF) grant awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), with the Port of Los Angeles as the prime applicant. CARB has awarded those funds to the Port of Los Angeles for the ZANZEFF project as part of California Climate Investments, a California initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

“This cooperative effort among the Port of Los Angeles, Kenworth, Toyota and Shell is key to the development of hydrogen fuel cell electric technology in Class 8 trucks. The goal is to demonstrate and further develop advanced zero emissions powertrains for commercial vehicles,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. “The performance of the 10 Kenworth heavy duty trucks being developed under this programme is targeted to meet or exceed that of a diesel, while producing water as the only emissions by-product,” Dozier said.

The programme‘s trucking partners are Toyota Logistics Services, UPS, TTSI and Southern Counties Express. The fleets will run the Kenworth T680s – equipped with Toyota‘s hydrogen fuel cell electric technology – in real-world operations, which will provide critical data for future development of the zero emissions powertrain. Also important for commercial adoption, is the hydrogen fuelling infrastructure growth funded by the grant. The programme will expand the quantity and accessibility of heavy-duty hydrogen fuelling stations in the ports and across the Inland Empire regions. Shell will develop two new large capacity heavy-duty hydrogen fuelling stations.

The programme is utilising the Kenworth T680 on-highway flagship, which sets the standard of excellence for superior fuel efficiency, performance and comfort. “The T680 is perfect choice for this zero-emissions application with its proven reliability and durability, and provides the perfect foundation on which to develop the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain,” Dozier said.

“Our experienced dealer network covering the Inland Empire will provide support the programme‘s zero-emissions vehicles. With the stability of the service network, we are well-positioned to meet the ‘Shore-to-Store‘ programme goals.”