Scania fuel cell trucks begin pilot operations in Norway

In Scania3 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineJanuary 21, 2020

Scania has partnered with ASKO to deploy four hydrogen gas trucks with electric drivelines that can be refuelled by ASKO‘s hydrogen gas station in Trondheim, Norway.

There is no one-size-fits-all-universal solution within electrification of heavy commercial vehicles. One of the technology tracks that Scania has explored with its customer ASKO is fuel cell electric trucks powered by hydrogen gas. This venture now goes into the next phase with four trucks being put into real operation in a pilot. The pilot will be the basis for further learning and development for both companies.

Scania is working with its electrification roadmap in the same way as with the combustion engine-technology; a multi-facetted approach with a broad range of solutions. The company has researched and developed different kinds of bio-fuelled hybrid-electric technologies, as well as fully electric vehicles. Scania‘s battery electric bus was launched in 2019 and the company also work with electric vehicles that can be charged via electrified roads or through hydrogen-powered fuel cells, as is the case with ASKO.

“Hydrogen gas is an interesting option for long haulage electrified transport and early tests show that the technology also works well in colder climate. We will continue to monitor the performance of these trucks closely. I also want to commend ASKO for taking early and bold steps to ensure a supply of hydrogen sourced from renewable sources and infrastructure for fuelling. The company is a player who really take action to catalyse a shift toward sustainable transport,” says Karin Rådström, head of sales and marketing at Scania.

As always, Scania‘s work is based on a modular approach. In the four trucks deployed in ASKO‘s operations, the internal combustion engine in the powertrain is replaced by an electric machine, powered by electricity from fuel cells fed with hydrogen and from rechargeable batteries. The rest of the powertrain is composed of the same standard components used in the hybrid trucks and buses that Scania already delivers.

Facts about the truck:

Gross Vehicle Weight: 26+1 tonnes

Configuration: 6×2*4

Powertrain: 290kW electric machine/210 kW continuous output, 2-speed transmission, 2200Nm peak torque

Installed battery capacity: 56kWh Li-ion

On-board charger: 22kW AC with CCS charging interface

Fuel cell: 90kW PEFC delivered from a third party

Hydrogen storage: 33kg @350 bar

Estimated range: 400 to 500 km

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