Volvo announced Wednesday it's started on-road testing of heavy trucks with hydrogen combustion engine with an eye toward launching in Europe before 2030.
"On-road testing is an important milestone for our hydrogen combustion engine trucks," says Jan Hjelmgren, head of product management at Volvo Trucks. "I feel confident that they will be the best in the industry if you look at fuel efficiency, power, torque and drivability. Customers will be able to operate them just like diesel trucks. Our experience with HPDI technology in more than 10,000 gas-powered trucks is strong proof of its performance."
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HPDI is high pressure direct injection, a technology where a small amount of ignition fuel is injected with high pressure to enable compression ignition before hydrogen is added. Volvo uses it in its gas-powered trucks. In hydrogen-powered trucks, the company says it expects higher energy efficiency, lower fuel consumption and increased engine power compared to conventional hydrogen combustion engine technology.
Volvo says hydrogen combustion trucks will be suitable over longer distances and in regions where there is limited charging infrastructure of time for the recharging of battery-electric trucks. Trucks with combustion engines that run on green hydrogen have the potential to deliver net zero CO2 well-to-wheel when using renewable HVO as a fuel, Volvo says.
"We see great potential for hydrogen combustion engine trucks and they will have a role to play in the transformation to zero tailpipe emission transport," Hjelmgren says. "Several technologies will be needed to decarbonize. As a global truck manufacturer, we offer a variety of decarbonization solutions and help our customers choose the best alternative based on transport assignment, available infrastructure and green energy prices."
Volvo offers battery electric trucks, fuel cell electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels. A large-scale deployment of hydrogen trucks will require the roll out of hydrogen fuel infrastructure and a competitive price on hydrogen, Volvo says.
