Peterbilt Shows Hydrogen Combustion Engine Demonstrator – Gas Smarts
The DAF XF H2 demonstrator was outfitted with a modified model of the Paccar MX-13 engine, with a Traxon 12-speed transmission.
Photograph: Deborah Lockridge
Peterbilt displayed a Euro-style excessive cabover truck, a demonstrator mannequin powered by a prototype hydrogen-fueled inside combustion engine, on the latest American Trucking Associations annual administration convention in Austin, Texas.
There it was on the conference ground, parked between a crimson Peterbilt Mannequin 579 UltraLoft with Epiq Max aero package deal and a white-and-blue Mannequin 579EV, a DAF XF from Paccar’s European subsidiary, DAF Vehicles.
The DAF XF was outfitted with a modified model of the Paccar MX-13 engine, producing 295 hp and 1,250 lb.-ft.
The demonstrator truck additionally had the DAF Digital Imaginative and prescient System that makes use of cameras as a substitute of mirrors.
Photograph: Deborah Lockridge
A hydrogen-powered engine requires spark ignition, which suggests it’s not fully zero emissions — there’s a small quantity of NOx produced.
There are some questions as as to whether that NOx will preclude hydrogen combustion engines from being labeled as zero emissions. White stated the U.S. Environmental Safety Company at the moment acknowledges it as zero emissions, however the California Air Sources Board is one other story.
Modifications needed to be made to the pistons and heads, in addition to the gas system, defined Jacob White, director of product advertising and marketing. There’s a special compression ratio, with a decrease quantity of stress than that of a diesel.
The 4 90-liter hydrogen tanks look much like CNG tanks, however the hydrogen is beneath barely larger stress.
Execs and Cons of Hydrogen Combustion Engines
Utilizing hydrogen to energy a combustion engine somewhat than utilizing it for a fuel-cell-electric truck would have a number of benefits, White stated:
- Decrease acquisition price as a result of the truck is easier than an FCEV.
- The gas price would possible be decrease, as a result of an inside combustion engine can run on a less-pure model of hydrogen than a fuel-cell-electric powertrain that has to run the H2 by means of an electrolyzer to show it into vitality.
- Extending vary is a matter of including gas tanks
- The operation is much like compressed pure gasoline vehicles, which is extra acquainted to fleets.
The 4 90-liter hydrogen tanks look much like CNG tanks, however the hydrogen is beneath barely larger stress.
Photograph: Deborah Lockridge
Requested about drawbacks, White stated, the vitality density of hydrogen is decrease than that of diesel. Which means it wants extra gas to go the identical distance as a diesel-powered truck.
The obvious damaging, after all, is a scarcity of hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Proper now, Europe is forward of the U.S. in growing the hydrogen infrastructure for H2 ICE or FCEV vehicles, WhIte stated.
“It would take time and funding,” he stated.
Demonstrating What’s Doable
It was the primary U.S. outing for the truck, which almost two years in the past acquired the 2022 Truck Innovation Award from the Worldwide Truck of the 12 months program.
“The actual function of that is to point out it’s doable,” White stated. “There’s a number of dialog round EVs, FCEVs, however we want longer vary.”
There’s nonetheless a number of work to do earlier than a manufacturing model, he added, however “it’s undoubtedly on the product highway map.”
