Hydrogen trucks create a big explosion in the electric vehicle village: 500km, refueling takes 10 minutes

The culmination of 7 years of technological development

UK-based startup Tevva today unveiled a heavy-duty cargo vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. This car is the culmination of seven years of technical development, including 350,000km of testing.

Thus, Tevva becomes the youngest company to join the race in the field of attracting interest from multinational corporations such as Daimler Truck and Volvo.

Tevva says it has raised $140 million in funding. Their hydrogen fuel cell truck has a range of nearly 500km. Moreover, the total cost of owning a hydrogen fuel truck can be comparable to a diesel truck.

A full charge of hydrogen fuel will take 10 minutes, while charging the battery from "full to 100%" will take 5-6 hours. The company's first hydrogen fuel cell truck weighed 7.5 tons. Later models are planned to weigh 12 and 19 tons. The company expects to produce 3,000 trucks per year by 2023.

The company's first hydrogen fuel cell truck weighed 7.5 tons.

In a statement, Tevva explained why the company combines hydrogen fuel cells and electric batteries. "The fuel cell system powers the electric battery, extending the vehicle's range and allowing the truck to carry more over longer distances," the company said.

In addition to the hydrogen fuel cell truck, the company is also developing an electric truck with a range of nearly 260km. Details of both electric and hydrogen truck models were previously announced by Tevva.

Tevva trucks will address the immediate electrification needs of the transport industry, in light of the European Union's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and a proposed ban on the sale of all polluting vehicles by 2050. year 2035.

On CNBC's "Street Signs Europe" broadcast on June 30, Tevva CEO Asher Bennett was asked if his company was looking to diversify into smaller vehicles.

"We're not interested in developing minivans or pickup trucks. In many cases, the technology to build them is very similar to larger electric sedans. They work very well," Asher Bennett said. ".

He added: "We focus a lot on heavy-duty trucks and we're slowly moving towards heavier vehicles. Because those are segments that are much more difficult to electrify."

Obstacles still exist

As governments around the world act to reduce transportation's impact on the environment, a number of companies in the trucking sector are looking to develop low- or zero-emissions vehicles. emissions, including hydrogen vehicles.

Last month, Volvo Trucks said the company had begun testing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The Swedish company claims their range can be up to 1,000km.

Tevva trucks will address the immediate electrification needs of the transportation industry.

Gothenburg-based Volvo Trucks says refueling the vehicles will take less than 15 minutes. Customer pilot programs will begin in the next few years. Commercialization is planned for the end of the decade.

Besides hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Volvo Trucks, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, has also developed electric trucks. Not out of the game, Daimler Truck, like Volvo Trucks and Tevva, is focusing on both battery-powered and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Speaking to CNBC in an interview last year, Daimler Truck Chairman Martin Daum was asked about the debate between electric batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.

'We use both because both are… valuable,' he said. He then explains how different technologies will suit different situations.

Despite the excitement over the past few quarters about the potential of hydrogen-powered vehicles, expanding the field still presents obstacles, especially when it comes to the development of infrastructure that caters to the needs of the public. refueling. The method of hydrogen production is also an issue to consider.

Both of these points were acknowledged by Volvo Trucks in June. The company pointed to challenges including "large-scale green hydrogen supply" as well as "de facto heavy vehicle refueling infrastructure that remains undeveloped".

Hydrogen can be produced in a number of ways. One of them is the use of electrolysis. The electric current will split the water into oxygen and hydrogen.

If the electricity used in this process comes from a renewable energy source such as wind or solar, some would call the hydrogen produced "green hydrogen" or "renewable hydrogen". However, today most hydrogen production is based on fossil fuels. The resulting product will be called "blue hydrogen" or "gray hydrogen".

For its part, Tevva said the company will help its customers "access a sustainable and affordable hydrogen supply in a safe and convenient way, which when they buy or rent will load Tevva's hydrogen".