Large scale deployment project to accelerate the uptake of Hydrogen Trucks in Europe

Project Information

H2Accelerate TRUCKS

Grant agreement ID: 101101446

DOI

10.3030/101101446

EC signature date 27 January 2023

Start date 1 February 2023

End date 31 July 2030

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 128 382 980,31

EU contribution

€ 29 991 488,50

Coordinated by

SINTEF AS
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - H2Accelerate TRUCKS (Large scale deployment project to accelerate the uptake of Hydrogen Trucks in Europe)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Achieving the European Grean Deal targets of becoming the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050 will require deep cuts to emissions across all aspects of the economy, including the transport sector.
For long-haul trucking hydrogen fuel cell trucks represent a promising zero emission option, capable of delivering long range and fast refuelling.
The H2AccelerateTRUCKS project is addressing the significant contributions to GHG emissions from the heavy duty (HD) truck sector.
Leading HD truck manucturers Daimler, Iveco and Volvo are key Partners to provide the trucks to the project.
The project is coordinated by the research institute SINTEF, Norway.

The overall goal of the H2AccTRUCKS project is to support the transition of fuel cell trucks from technically proven but high-cost demonstrators to a viable commercial choice for operators across Europe.
The Main Objectives are the following four:
1) Deploy 150 fuel cell trucks between 41 and 44 tons in 9 European countries by the end of 2029.
2) Operate the trucks on an HRS network designed for zero-emissions truck deployment, operated by Everfuel, Shell and TotalEnergies.
3) Analyse technical, environmental, economic and attitudinal data to display the viability of H2 fuel-cell trucks as a solution to decarbonise road freight.
4) Raise awareness of the benefits of using green hydrogen for trucking in Europe through a wide range of targeted communication activities.

The European truck manufacturers included in the project are in the forefront of the development of fuel cell-powered heavy-duty trucks and are, through the project, developing their technologies beyond state-of-the-art in terms of performance, reliability and cost.
The project will contribute to scaling up the truck manufacturers' capabilities to produce higher volumes of trucks, thereby facilitating the mass market deployment from 2030.
Three leading refuelling station operators (Shell, Everfuel and TotalEnergies) will, as associate partners, contribute to increased supply of green hydrogen along the TEN-T corridors, rendering Europe in the forefront of the decarbonisation.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Activities performed so far include preparations for heavy duty (HD) truck manufacturing as well as truck maintenance facilities.
The involved OEMs have all performed testing of their HD prototype trucks under demanding climate conditions (low and high temperature) as well as high altitudes.
The results show that the HD trucks perform well under these demanding conditions, while minor challenges have been mitigated through amendment of system design and control.
Two H2 storage solutions are being studied within this project (compressed H2 and liquid H2). Future learnings in the project will contribute to inform end users on optimum hydrogen storage technology choice(s) for their truck fleet.
OEMs have also assessed the component supply chain, thereby preparing for vehicle manufacturing and fostering European value creation. Furthermore, preparations for homologation and type approval of the vehicles is ongoing.
Under the auspice of Project Partner VTT, protocols for data monitoring and analysis have been developed and agree upon. Assessment of HSE issues have been performed leading to the establishment of a safety plan.

OEMs have been negotiating customer contracts and have been speaking with fleet operators to understand the needs of their specific user cases. To ensure the successful implementation of the 150 H2AccelerateTRUCKS project later in the project, it is fundamental to align and coordinate with the deployment of an adapted and sufficient network of hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS). In this framework, communication and information sharing between OEMs and HRS providers have been facilitated through an project internal forum, linked to the H2Accelerate Initiative, as well as through the establishment of a Register of European HRS network.
Regions for deployment of the involved OEMs' HD trucks are shared with the HRS providers to facilitate the co-locations and de-risk the overall establishment of hydrogen based trucking in Europe.
Training material/protocols for truck operators and drivers is in preparation, thereby ensuring safe and reliable operation of the vehicles once deployed.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

It is still very early in the execution of the H2AccelerateTRUCKS project (18 months out of 72 months (25%)), so there are currently few results beyond the state of the art.
Project partner Daimler Trucks have, however, demonstrated an impressive 1047 km range for their liquid hydrogen fuelled fuel cell HD truck (fall 2023).
The extensive outreach activities carried out by project partner UNTRR has contributed to increased awareness in Eastern Member States.

Volvo's prototype fuel cell HD Truck during winter test in Sweden

Iveco's first generation HD Truck powered by hydrogen and fuel cells

Daimler Truck testing its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck fuel-cell prototype