Hydrogen

Symbio presents its first Hydrogen Fuel-Cell heavy-duty truck (a CEC-supported initiative), to demonstrate the performance and reliability of zero-emission fuel cell technology for demanding heavy-duty transportation. Symbio (Temecula, CA), Michelin (Greenville, SC), May 16, 2024 — Two years after announcing the “H2 Central Valley Express” project, Symbio unveils a hydrogen-fueled, regional-haul Class 8 truck developed and integrated by Symbio in California and outfitted with next-generation EV specific tires that offer improved fuel economy and reduced wear from Michelin. The Symbio “H2 Central Valley Express” project aims to develop and demonstrate a hydrogen fuel cell truck that matches the performance of a 15-liter diesel truck providing a zero-emission solution for demanding regional-haul trucking operations.Symbio has designed, developed, and integrated a heavy-duty long-haul truck ready fuel cell powertrain, powered by Symbio’s fuel cell technology, into a Freightliner Cascadia class-8 tractor. The diesel engine has been replaced with Symbio’s 400 kW StackPack fuel cell system consisting of four packaged sub-systems of Symbio’s proprietary stack technology proven in the field with more than 5 million miles (8 million km) on-road experience. The heavy duty 400kW power system’s control strategy is optimized to deliver superior energy balance and power, meeting the functional requirements of the diesel truck. With a 70kg hydrogen tank onboard, the fuel cell truck is capable of over 450 miles per fueling event.Michelin (co-shareholder of Symbio) provides next generation low-rolling resistance tires that combine safety, longevity and improved fuel efficiency, thus enhancing the total cost of ownership of the vehicle. The aim of this demonstration is to test the low-rolling resistance tires on a zero-emission truck. These tires are designed to handle higher torque loads under acceleration, which are different from those of internal combustion engine trucks. It is expected that the data collected will help determine the improvements needed to develop a tire applicable for the needs of hydrogen trucks.Hydrogen is perfectly suited to decarbonize heavy-duty mobility, bringing distinctive advantages including long range, higher payload, fast refueling and a reduced total cost of ownership. It is particularly attractive for highly utilized commercial vehicles which need a longer driving range and faster refueling time to maximize uptime.