Scania, a long time and until now fierce defender of battery electric power for zero emission trucks and a long time sceptic of hydrogen fuel cell machines has this week displayed its first hydrogen fuel cell powered truck at a transport expo in Switzerland.
According to a linked in post by Scania’s vice president for Pilot Partners, Tony Sandberg, the display of the hydrogen FCEV truck at Transport CH held in the Swiss capital of Bern this week is the culmination of a long and demanding project, which he says is now ready to be revealed to the public.
While Sandberg says that battery electric vehicles are still the main strategy for Scania,it will display its first fuel cell electric truck, which has been developed by Scania Pilot Partner ahead of its debut n Bern.
Sandberg said in his post that to accelerate the shift to sustainable transport there is a need to prepare for complementary technologies such as extended range electric vehicles and fuel cell electric machines.
“Testing these alternative paths is one of the roles that Scania Pilot Partner has,” Sanbdbverg said.
“These pilot FCEVs are not yet available for order, but they will be used to evaluate technology, operational performance, and commercial viability,” he added.
“In an evolving eco-system it is crucial to work together with other stakeholders to learn their plans, concerns and barriers,” Sandberg explained in his Linked In post.
Sandberg explained that the pace of scaling up will depend on the capabilities of the eco-system, so therefore, these pilots will be deployed at selected locations where fruitful partnerships between operators, shippers and hydrogen distributors have been established.
“Together we will gain practical experiences of running zero emission transports on hydrogen,” he said.
“I am truly impressed by the guts and patience of the pioneering customers that will soonjoin the Pilot Partner community,” he said.
