Ford and a consortium of automotive technology leaders and fleet operators announced a project, partially funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), to test if hydrogen fuel cell technology can increase the zero-emission range of Ford’s E-Transit. Specifically, the project will research the potential of using hydrogen fuel cell technology to extend the distribution range for heavy-use E-Transit customers whose vehicles travel long distances with maximum payloads. It will also establish how well the hydrogen fuel cell technology functions on routes with limited charging opportunities.
“Ford believes that the primary application of fuel cells could be in its largest, heaviest CVs to ensure they are emission-free, while satisfying the high daily energy requirements our customers demand,” says Ford Motor Limited Chair Tim Slatter. “We are excited to be exploring new ways to make clean deliveries an option for even our hardest working vans on the road.”
Advancing Existing Research
Ford says it has been researching fuel cell technology since the 1990s, and the company has already shown a few of its advanced prototypes at events, such as the first-generation E-Transit fuel cell vehicle demonstrated at the CENEX Low Carbon Show in 2021. As part of the new E-Transit project, Ford will develop a test fleet of eight fuel cell Ford E-Transit vehicles, and this fleet will be tested in different ways over a series of six-month periods until the project ends in 2025.
Project Details
Data from the E-Transit prototypes will provide Ford and its partners a good idea of the total cost of ownership with fuel cell vans in real-world environments where they operate with a similar range and hours, without a need to recharge, to diesel-powered equivalents. Ford’s initial prototypes will be equipped with a high-power fuel cell stack offering maximised storage capability. Other considerations will include optimisations for capacity, cost, safety, and weight. Ford also plans to evaluate the viability and efficiency of recycling the hydrogen fuel cell’s end-of-life components.
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Source: Ford