Gas distribution network provider Wales & West Utilities (WWU) and company First Hydrogen have published the initial findings of a month-long study into the performance of a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle (FCEV).
Data collected from onboard telematics over a combined distance of 640 miles (1,029km) shows the FCEV – a van – operated for between six and seven hours per day in temperatures of between 2°C and 17°C, without impacting range.
The insight collected halfway through the trial shows the advantages of the van’s fuel-cell powertrain in real-world operation, with no decrease in performance or range when operating in colder temperatures – a vital KPI for fleet operators exploring zero-emission vehicle solutions as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) can suffer with battery degradation in cooler or hotter climates.
For example, a 2023 study by the Norwegian Automobile Federation showed that BEVs running in colder weather dropped an average of 20% from the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure range, which is calculated from the vehicle operating at 23°C without auxiliaries such as heating or air conditioning turned on.
This can reportedly increase to a 40% drop for vehicles with older batteries or when heating or air conditioning are operating.
During the WWU trial, First Hydrogen, a Vancouver, Montreal and London-based green energy and automotive developer, also demonstrated how its fuel cell’s powertrain delivers power output of 60kW in transient accelerations and peak range of 400 miles (630km).
According to First Hydrogen, the findings indicate that the FCEV can manage more demanding duties for WWU, such as carrying heavier payloads, driving over hilly terrain or powering auxiliary equipment.
WWU delivers gas to 7.5 million customers across Wales and the south west of England, and, in winter months, demands on its fleet vehicles to respond to gas emergencies and maintain the gas network are at their peak.
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Stephen Offley, transport manager at Wales & West Utilities, said: “We are impressed with the performance of First Hydrogen’s FCEV and the trials are giving us a real insight into the benefits and potential use of hydrogen vehicles in our fleet.
“For fleet managers it is important to have a reliable and repeatable range so we can plan daily operations without adjusting for colder weather and building in more time for recharging.
“February is one of the coldest months in south Wales and one of WWU’s busiest for emergency call outs, yet the cooler temperatures have not impacted the vehicle’s ability to respond to all the engineer visits we need it to.”
The trial will continue until the end of the month [February 2024] to assess how FCEVs fare in winter conditions.
Achievements and innovations in alternative fuels will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations officially open in March 2024. Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
