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September 6, 2005

H2 Truck Ready for Sale in Europe

Source: H2 Carbiz

Danish based H2 Truck ApS – a joint venture between A Flensborg A/S and H2 Logic ApS has today launched the so-called H2 Truck, a small utility vehicle suitable for transport applications at hospitals and airports.

”It has been a hard job, but we are proud to have reached this milestone in commercialising the hydrogen and fuel cell technology”, says Jacob Hansen, Director of H2 Logic.

”A year ago we made the first prototype. Based on the field test experiences made on the prototype we have now further developed it into a CE approved demonstration model ready for sale. The target is to initiate a number of global demonstration projects to have the H2 Truck running in as many applications as possible. This will supply valuable data to continue the development and further bring down prices.” says Jacob Hansen .

The first hydrogen powered truck was produced in collaboration between business development company ZEES ApS and H2 Logic ApS and delivered to the Municipality of Ringkjøbing , who placed the order through Green City Denmark , as part of a regional economic growth initiative.

H2 Logic further gained experience with metal hydrides in another collaboration with the ZEES ApS in a project that involved a complete edutainment system delivered to Koebenhavns Energi A/S. In this project, two handicap vehicles from the Danish manufacturer Mini Crosser A/S were converted to run on hydrogen.

H2 Truck for internal transportation

The H2 Truck is intended for internal transportation in industries, warehouses, hospitals, airports and other applications with a need for non-polluting light transport.

The H2 Truck is different from battery trucks in the way that the batteries have been replaced with a H2 Power Unit, developed by H2 Logic. The Fuel Cell used is the NEXA Module from Ballard Power Systems.

Compared to batteries the H2 Power Unit doubles the operation range of the H2 Truck and the refilling time of hydrogen is only to 2-3 minutes compared to the 10-12 hours recharge time of batteries.

The only emission from the fuel cell system is pure water enabling a non-polluting internal transportation system. The H2 Power Unit also features a 1000W 230V AC power output making the H2 Truck a mobile power source.

Today Green City Denmark promotes the H2 Truck internationally. “Should H2 Truck ApS get orders from for example Germany , the company is ready to seek approvals from TÜV,” confirms managing director of A. Flensborg Henning Moelkjaer. "Our aim is serial production! The H2 Truck is tested thoroughly and CE approved and ready for use by real customers”, says Jacob Hansen.

So far 6 units of the H2 Trucks have been ordered by Danish Customers, and the target for 2005 is 10-15 H2 Trucks. During 2006 sale for countries outside Denmark will be initiated. Order negotiations have already started with Norway , Japan and China .

The H2 Truck delivers a complete customer solution

The H2 Truck concept is developed in a co-operation between A. Flensborg and H2 Logic. Since 1933 A . Flensborg has been supplying engine- and electrical vehicles for internal transportation needs. H2 Logic was established as a concept buy-out from ZEES ApS including supervision and has since then developed into a successful marketer. H2 Logic has developed the hydrogen and fuel cell system, the so-called H2 Power Unit that powers the H2 Truck instead of batteries.

The H2 Power Unit system is in many ways unique from other fuel cell systems on the market today.

“Based on the test drives we made on our first prototype truck, we found out that customers are asking for a complete and “easy to use” transportation system, not a complex fuel cell system.”

The H2 Power Unit therefore consists of a safe low pressure metal hydride storage that is integrated with the fuel cell. The storage system consists of two so-called H2 Canisters that easily can be replaced by refilled ones. A new H2 Power Unit controlling software has also been developed with a user-friendly graphical interface controlled via a touch screen on the H2 Truck.

To avoid that the customers have to handle a complex hydrogen-refilling process, H2 Logic has also developed a compact H2 Filling station to refill the metal hydride H2 Canisters. Hydrogen is supplied from a local gas company, Strandmøllen.

“When we deliver our H2 Truck to the first customers in December this year, we will open several small scale metal hydride filling stations in Denmark, actually the first stations ever to open in the country”, finishes Jacob Hansen.