Allison gears up for hydrogen push

Touting its suitability for the next generation of powertrains, Allison Transmission has announced that one of its fully automatic transmissions has been fitted to the UK’s first refuse collection truck to be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell engine.

The truck, which is based on a 4200mm wheelbase HH-Mercedes-Benz Econic hydrogen chassis and powered by a 250kW Hyzon electric motor with a 45kW fuel cell, features an Allison 3000 Series fully automatic transmission.

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The truck will be pressed into service by the Aberdeen City Council in Scotland, where it will utilise the council’s own green hydrogen infrastructure. Boasting a 15kg hydrogen tank capacity and 140kWh batteries at 700 volts, the truck will have a range of around 250km – appreciably greater than that a pure battery-electric vehicle.

The vehicle is the latest step in the “H2 Aberdeen” initiative, which aims to bring about a hydrogen economy in and around the region. The Aberdeen City Council first introduced 10 single-deck hydrogen buses in 2012 followed by the world’s first deployment of 15 double-decker buses in 2020. In 2018 it deployed the UK’s first hydrogen-powered street sweeper, which also features an Allison transmission.

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources via the electrolysis of water, is completely carbon free. Hyzon currently produces the highest power density hydrogen fuel cell modules in the world, capable of providing good payload capacity and range to medium- and heavy-duty transport. The fuel cell’s power can be tailored to the vehicle’s maximum gross vehicle weight and operational requirements.

“Aberdeen City Council already runs 500 vehicles equipped with Allison transmissions and has been impressed for many years now by their drivability and durability,” said Nathan Wilson, Account & Area Sales Manager, UK & ROI at Allison Transmission.

“And though Allison Automatics were originally designed for diesel engines, they are equally well-suited to alternative-fuel and alternative-power vehicles. For these reasons, the Council specifically requested that its new hydrogen-powered RCV (refuse collection vehicle) should also have an Allison transmission.”

The new truck will begin duty this month (March) and will perform a domestic refuse collection duty cycle that entails stop-start work for 7.5 hours a day, five days a week.

Allison says the use of its fully automatic transmission with patented torque converter delivers improved driveability while reducing maintenance compared to a mechanical clutch, making the truck easier to drive during low-speed maneuvering.