Nuvera Fuel Cells is shipping pilot versions of its 45-kilowatt fuel cell engines to partners in Europe and China to electrify medium and heavy commercial vehicles.
The zero-emission engine generates enough power for buses, trucks and other off-road vehicles, Novera said. Or it can be used as a range extender for a battery-powered electric powertrain.
Nuvera, based in Billerica, Massachusetts, is a subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Group Inc. It makes fuel cells for forklifts and other material handling equipment.
Fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water as the only emissions. Like batteries, fuel cells convert energy from a chemical reaction into usable electrical energy. High-pressure hydrogen refueling usually takes the same time as filling the tank with gasoline or diesel.
The main disadvantage of fuel cells is the lack of a national fuel supply infrastructure. Central refueling stations, where trucks or equipment regularly travel, make the technology viable, said Gus Block, director of marketing and corporate development at Novera.
“Trucking is a very attractive application for fuel cell engines because their weight and size allow for carrying comparable payloads on a fully electrified platform,” Block told FreightWaves. “At this point, it makes sense to focus on applications such as tractors, route-specific terminal tractors and return-to-base fleets.”
Among Nuvera’s first customers to purchase the 45-kilowatt engine is its parent company, which is integrating fuel cell engines into a container handling platform at the Port of Los Angeles as part of a program funded by the California Air Resources Board. Zhejiang Runfeng Hydrogen Engine Co., Nuvera’s Chinese partner, is integrating the Nuvera fuel cell into a city bus.
Nuvera is moving fuel cell forklift power system manufacturing to the Hyster-Yale plant. It is also building its own fuel cell stack manufacturing facility in China, with local partners helping Nuvera access Chinese markets.
“Our strategy is to improve our manufacturing and supply chain capabilities for our core proprietary technology, and to partner with OEMs and their suppliers to integrate our products into their vehicles and equipment,” Block said.
Nuvera’s new fuel cell engine includes a fully integrated compressor and patented controls for easy integration and operation. This technology includes uncoated metal sheets that resist shock and vibration. The motor uses open flow field architecture for high power density and efficiency.
Hyster-Yale Group is owned by Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY) is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
