Tevva Motors has launched its new 7.5-tonne hydrogen-electric truck, the first home-grown fuel-cell heavy vehicle designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom. The truck affirms a driving range of 499 kms, with a refuelling time of just 5-10 minutes.
The hydrogen truck is powered by Loop Energy's T505 Series 50 kW fuel-cell system mated to a battery. The fuel cell system tops up the battery, extending the vehicle's range and allowing the truck to carry heavier loads over longer distances.
One advantage of using the fuel cell as a range extender, rather than the primary source of power, is that it allows for smaller, cheaper and lighter fuel cells and operate these at the highest possible efficiency, according to the manufacturer.
The Tilbury-headquartered company adds that the hydrogen-electric truck comfortably meets the demanding duty-cycles for nearly all urban and extra-urban use case scenarios. Tevva is also partnering with hydrogen suppliers to provide innovative and hydrogen services to cater to the needs of our growing customer base.
Tevva CEO and founder Asher Bennett said, "We are excited to launch our hydrogen electric HGV, creating a landmark moment for Tevva and UK manufacturing. We firmly believe that the post-fossil fuel future, which is quickly approaching, will see a new range of technologies and fuels take centre stage in the transport industry".
"By embracing hydrogen, we are futureproofing ourselves, our clients and the industries and communities they operate in. We also pride ourselves on the fact that our vehicles are safe, reliable and go the distance. Combined with our commitment to customer service, we believe that Tevva's hydrogen electric truck will be a popular choice for fleet operators across the UK, Europe and eventually North America", he added.
Tevva claims that its proprietary software systems operate battery and hydrogen fuel cells at the highest efficiencies to optimize cost-effectiveness, carbon effectiveness, resilience and refuelling convenience.
Speaking on the development, Ben Nyland, Loop Energy President and CEO, said, "We are extremely happy to provide our fuel cell system to power the revolutionary zero-emissions truck Tevva is bringing to market. From the tender process through to the integration of the first vehicles, we have been consistently impressed with the vision and execution of the entire Tevva team".
"Trucks like Tevva's hydrogen-electric platform will be critical to achieving the emissions reduction targets necessary to address climate change. Their commitment to scale quickly reflects the sense of urgency with which the transportation industry needs to approach the deployment of zero-emission commercial vehicles".
He further opined, "We believe the combination of Tevva's proven range-extended platform with Loop Energy's leading fuel cell system can be a key contributor to the decarbonization of transportation in Europe and North America".