Scania and Asko test hydrogen trucks

When it comes to the electrification of heavy commercial vehicles, there is no one-size-fits-all-universal solution at the present time.

Many commercial vehicle manufacturers are having an each-way bet by testing both battery-electric vehicles and hydrogen-electric or fuel-cell trucks.

One of the technology tracks that Scania has explored with its customer ASKO, Norway's leading grocery wholesaler, is fuel cell electric trucks powered by hydrogen gas.

This venture is now going into the next phase with four trucks being put into real operation in a pilot that is one of the first of its kind. The pilot will be the basis for further learning and development for both companies.

“Scania continues to work with cutting edge technology that supports the shift to fossil-free transport. An important part of this is done together with some of our most progressive partners, such as ASKO, in customer-near development,” says Karin Rådström, Head of Sales and Marketing at Scania.

Scania says it is working with its electrification program in the same way as with the combustion engine-technology; a multi-facetted approach with a broad range of solutions. The company has researched and developed different kinds of bio-fuelled hybrid-electric technologies, as well as fully-electric vehicles.

Scania’s battery electric bus was launched in 2019 and the company is also working with electric vehicles that can be charged via electrified roads or through hydrogen-powered fuel cells as is the case with ASKO.

“Hydrogen gas is an interesting option for long haulage electrified transport and early tests show that the technology also works well in colder climates. We will continue to monitor the performance of these trucks closely. I also want to commend ASKO for taking early and bold steps to ensure a supply of hydrogen sourced from renewable sources and [the] infrastructure for fuelling,” says Rådström.

In the four trucks deployed in ASKO’s operations, the internal combustion engine in the powertrain is replaced by an electric motor powered by electricity from fuel cells fed with hydrogen and from rechargeable batteries. The rest of the powertrain is composed of the same standard components used in the hybrid trucks and buses that Scania already sells.

Facts about the truck:
• Gross Vehicle Weight: 26+1 tonnes
• Configuration: 6×2/4
• Powertrain: 290kW electric motor/210 kW continuous output, 2-speed transmission, 2200Nm peak torque
• Installed battery capacity: 56kWh Li-ion
• On-board charger: 22kW AC with CCS charging interface
• Fuel cell: 90kW PEFC delivered from a third party
• Hydrogen storage: 33kg @ 350 bar
• Estimated range: 400-500km