Power Packed
A fuel cell has made it to the world of heavy trucks, but not as the main power source. At the Challenge Bibendum, Freightliner showed a concept truck that uses two fuel-cell “stacks” operating in series as an auxiliary power unit (above). Fuelled by liquid hydrogen from a 197-litre tank, the unit produces 1.4 kilowatts of 120-volt AC or 12-volt DC power and is connected to the truck’s electrical system by an 1800-watt inverter.
The demo truck has an 8000-BTU/hour AC unit to show its ability to cool the truck without idling the engine. A fuel cell creates no harmful emissions. Its only by-product: water.
Freightliner says it’s working to make fuel cell APUs commercially viable within three to five years.
Among the issues to be resolved are cost, the integration with other truck systems, and the availability of suitable fuel.
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.