ZERO EMISSION start up, Hyzon Motors has unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell powered heavy rigid truck platform, with a drive train that has been designed in Australia and and it says is set to be part assembled here.
The company says it will showcase the fuel cell electric truck which is in fact a Mercedes Benz Econic platform, at a parallel event to this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, with the Hyzon on display at the city’s South Bank Truck Show, an outdoor truck and trailer display at Little Stanley Street and Stanley Street Plaza which will run alongside the HVIA run Truck Show in May. The company says it will also have a presence within the show at stand 297 on the Plaza Level of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Hyzon said it is developing the driveline for heavy rigid truck as a global platform, which will be adaptable for international markets, with a number of uses, including garbage compactors, tilt trays and flatbeds.
It says that leading the development of the rigid program in Australia has allowed it to tap into the ‘rich resources of highly skilled local engineering and technical knowledge’ to build a team, process, and product for its global and domestic markets.
Last year, the US-based Hyzon announced development of a purpose-built assembly plant in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Noble Park, to locally assemble hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles.
Hyzon says its team has designed and built the first three trucks over the past year, replacing the diesel engines in the Mercedes Benz built trucks with hydrogen gas tanks and a fuel cell.
Hyzon says the heavy rigid hydrogen powered truck is expected to hit the road in a number of commercial trials in Australia and New Zealand throughout this year.
Hyzon says it already has three tilt-tray trucks on order for the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) owned towing company Nationwide Group, and says discussions are also under way with waste management groups and other potential operators.
President of International operations John Edgley described the launch as a “real game changer” for Australia’s and New Zealand’s decarbonisation journey.
“We are building our zero-emission heavy vehicles right here in Australia, using local skills, employing local people, and collaborating effectively with our colleagues across the globe,” Edgily said in a bold claim, given the truck chassis and cabin are built in Germany by Daimler before being fitted with the fuel cell electric driveline in Melbourne.
“Our vehicle development process is following a path of design, build and validation to make use of resources that are available in Australia and provide an opportunity to train new engineers and technicians.
“Incorporating global market requirements and standards into our design philosophy has allowed the vehicle to be easily adaptable not only to international markets, but also with a multitude of use cases.
“Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles will play a vital role in the decarbonisation of the transport sector and be a key component of Australia and New Zealand fuel security strategy into the future.”
Hyzon Motors Inc president and interim CEO, Parker Meeks described the milestone is an important step in building the company’s manufacturing capacity globally.
“Hyzon’s core fuel cell technology has a distinct competitive advantage which will allow us to innovate and introduce high-performance vehicles that support the transition to net zero,” he said.
