Through this partnership, FirstElement Fuel is leveraging its true zero network of hydrogen refuelling stations to fuel three Xcient Fuel Cell prototypes at full 700 bar pressure. In addition, FirstElement Fuel is deploying its first-of-its-kind high capacity mobile refueller, which was developed in a collaboration between FirstElement Fuel, Taylor-Wharton, and Nikkiso.
The mobile refueller, which is capable of high-capacity fuelling at 125 kilograms per hour, is being used to support pilot programs for several other Heavy Duty FCEV OEMs as well.
"This program has helped FirstElement understand what we need to do to bring high-volume hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for heavy duty fuel cell trucks, and now we are prepared," said Joel Ewanick, chairman and CEO of FirstElement Fuel. "Our partnership with Hyundai has also given us total confidence that fuel cell technology will eventually meet all the needs of the transport and logistics sector with zero emissions."
FirstElement Fuel's drivers are piloting three Hyundai Motor's Xcient Fuel Cell trucks on routes throughout California, covering over 25,000 miles with zero emissions. The company has performed over 120 hydrogen fills for the Xcient Fuel Cell trucks as part of this program. FirstElement says it is offering the largest network of hydrogen stations in the world that are supplied by liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous. Liquid hydrogen distribution and storage is far more efficient, enabling the large quantities of hydrogen required to efficiently fuel Class 8 Fuel Cell Electric trucks.
Later this year, FirstElement Fuel and Hyundai Motor will launch the world's largest commercial deployment of Class 8 hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks in Oakland, California The project, titled NorCal Zero was jointly funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and is being managed by the Centre for Transportation and the Environment (CTE). The hydrogen refuelling partnership between FirstElement Fuel and Hyundai Motor is providing valuable data and operational experiences which are helping inform design considerations for the NorCal Zero project.
