Extraordinarily chilly temperatures may make refueling an issue.
Alberta is well-known for having chilly winters and up to date analysis carried out by the Alberta Motor Transport Affiliation (AMTA) reveals that excessive chilly temperatures may pose fueling challenges for hydrogen vans.
The analysis included each hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel vans and FCEVs.
The AMTA, a not-for-profit group representing over 75% of over 24,000 business transportation carriers throughout Alberta, reported on analysis into the long-distance use of hydrogen vans within the Canadian province’s excessive chilly climate circumstances. Particularly, this analysis, which was introduced in a current Mission Hydrogen webinar, centered on hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel autos and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Based on Jamie King – who works in analysis and innovation for AMTA and is the group’s subject material professional on hydrogen truck – AMTA has carried out trials with over 20 carriers utilizing Hydra Vitality dual-fuel vans in addition to Hyzon and Nikola gas cell electrical vans.
Most hydrogen vans are constructed for milder temperatures.
Based on King, as reported by Power Progressone of many points is that lots of the autos utilized in Canada are produced in Europe and america. Those from the US, specifically, King says “are typically built for lighter loads, shorter distances and more mild temperatures.”
As an illustration, the Nikola hydrogen vans are produced in Arizona, the place it’s extra necessary to think about hotter temperatures. Nevertheless, as King factors out, whereas in Arizona they is perhaps contemplating 40°C (104°F), in Alberta they’re interested by -40°C (-40°F).
One of many major chilly temperature-related challenges is fueling gas cell electrical autos. The rationale for that is partly due to the purity wanted for these autos.
Lack of purity can compromise the integrity of gas cells.
King defined that gas cell-grade hydrogen must be practically 100% (99.999999%) pure. With out this stage of purity, the integrity of the gas cells within the hydrogen truck may be compromised, and there’s a larger water content material within the gas if purity is diluted.
What’s extra, the kind of hydrogen fueling nozzle may also have an effect on gas entry and refueling time, with high-flow nozzles taking much less time to refuel than low-flow.
For now, dual-fuel hydrogen vans often is the extra logical selection for Alberta.
Whereas Alberta is excited about cleaner applied sciences, together with hydrogen transportationat current the fact is that lots of the fleets within the province received’t have the ability to afford making a direct swap to FCEVs. King notes {that a} cheaper transition is to undertake hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel know-how
With hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel, firms can take their present fleet to end-of-life. “In Canada, for approximately $60,000 to $70,000, you can retrofit your current truck to be diesel dual-fuel,” King stated, including that “purity — six nines — is not as critical for a dual-fuel truck.”
