THE roll-out of hydrogen-powered vans and buses might be the subsequent growth for Hyundai Motor Firm Australia (HMCA), which has efficiently deployed its Nexo fuel-cell electrical automobile (FCEV) into the ACT and Queensland state governments’ automobile fleets.
Hyundai says it anticipates a rising marketplace for its superior hydrogen applied sciences in Australia – not solely passenger and business automobiles, but additionally in stationary energy functions.
Presently, Australia has singular hydrogen-vehicle refuelling stations in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, although not all can be found for public use.
However in an unique interview with GoAuto, HMCA senior supervisor of future mobility and authorities relations Scott Nargar mentioned it was clear that many extra hydrogen filling hubs would have to be rolled out to make the expertise viable – particularly if hydrogen was to ultimately change diesel because the prime driver of Australia’s $101.5 billion road-freight business.
“We’ve had a number of requests (for our hydrogen-powered Xcient FC vans and buses) from throughout Australia,” Mr Nargar advised GoAuto.
“They aren’t solely a really actual various to diesel-powered heavy automobiles however, given their consumption of round 50kg of hydrogen per day on common, characterize an important return on funding for these folks growing hydrogen-vehicle refuelling belongings throughout the nation,” he mentioned.
Already accessible in China, Europe and North America, the Hyundai Xcient FC is supplied with a 180kW hydrogen gasoline cell system comprising two 90kW stacks.
Hyundai says the fuel-cell system has been particularly tailored to satisfy the sturdiness and vary calls for of economic fleet operators and quotes a system output determine of 350kW and 2237Nm.
Storage of roughly 31kg of hydrogen gasoline is dealt with by seven giant tanks with supplemental energy provided by three 72kWh high-voltage batteries.
The utmost driving vary of the Xcient FC is round to 400km when loaded – it has a 16,300kg payload – and refuelling takes wherever from eight to twenty minutes, relying on the ambient temperature.
Hyundai at present sells its hydrogen-powered Xcient FC truck and bus vary in left-hand-drive configuration solely, however Mr Nargar advised GoAuto that the corporate was working with markets together with New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, South Africa, and others to develop a chance for a right-hand-drive model of the present era truck, which can embrace market-specific specialist conversion centres like these of American pick-up importers ASV and Walkinshaw.
“That’s one thing we’re taking a look at proper now, and once more, the manufacturing unit can be taking a look at timing for right-hand drive. So, we’ll proceed to attempt to keep in entrance of the market, as a result of we all know the demand is right here,” he mentioned.
Given the success hydrogen vans and buses have loved in different markets, we’re assured we might have comparable conversion ranges right here. Heavy automobile fleets actually are the important thing.”
Referencing hydrogen-vehicle refuelling stations networks in different international locations, and the proposed Hydrogen Freeway undertaking alongside the Western Australian coast, Mr Nargar mentioned it was attainable that by spacing stations inside an affordable distance of each other would assist to foster curiosity within the hydrogen-mobility sector, in a lot the identical means electrical automobile charging infrastructure had for electrical passenger vehicles.
“With vehicles, it’s arduous to justify bigger hydrogen-vehicle refuelling stations, however with a few truck or bus fleets, and quite a lot of passenger vehicles, it actually begins to make sense. These are the kinds of applications we’re taking a look at,” he mentioned.
“We’re additionally taking a look at the place these stations might be deployed. If there’s a warehouse subsequent door, for instance, you’ll be able to run the forklifts off it, and a multifunction aspect to this enterprise, to ensure it’s run at capability, is one thing that can make buyers wish to construct the subsequent station, and the subsequent.
“Having hydrogen-vehicle filling stations positioned inside an affordable distance of one another will imply we are able to begin to ramp up the rollout of our product and maximise the throughput at these stations. In flip, that can assist the business safe additional funding, which is absolutely key to getting the entire undertaking underway.”
