Hydrogen Fuel Cells Drive Big Hauling Truck

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What is said to be the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell class 8 truck rolled through roads in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach recently.

Vision Industries delivered the truck to Total Transportation Services, a national trucking company, at the end of July to be tested in California ports. The truck will do short-haul routes typical of the other trucks currently operating in the ports in the coming six months.

Vision Truck

image via Vision Industries

The truck is powered by a battery that is recharged by hydrogen fuel cell, which generates electricity form a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The truck emits no combustion or air pollution. Vision Industries owns proprietary technology that combines the acceleration of a battery powered electric vehicle with the extended range of a hydrogen fuel cell.

If everything goes well in the testing phase, Total Transportation has agreed to buy a fleet of 100 of the zero-emission trucks for a cost of $27 million. Upon purchase, it will also have the option to buy another 300 trucks for an overall cost of $108 million.

The testing and potential purchase of a green transportation fleet is part of the port’s Technology Advancement Program, which is designed to encourage the commercialization of clean goods-movement vehicles and equipment.

Posted on August 4th, 2011

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Posted in Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Renewable Energy, Transportation

  • Hydrogen Halpin

    The message is simple-’zero emmision with vision’ Mike H. founder HYDROGENHEADS.

  • Anonymous

    And where does the hydrogen come from ? u00a0 u00a0Is the source “zero emissions” as well ? u00a0Not likely. u00a0

    • Mgfchg

      Perhaps not, but it’s deffinately progress since the fuel you currently are using not only releases emissions but results in a great deal of emissions in order to make it.

  • http://twitter.com/keithgreen Keith Green

    if you do the math that makes each truck $270,000. I just bought a 2011 Volvo VNL 730 for $125,000 including tax. I spend $60,000 per year on fuel. That means that the break even is 3 years not including tax. I don’t keep a truck more than 5 years so I would get 2 years of profit on the truck that they show.u00a0 Oh wait…the sleeper costs more money.nI want to see this tech work…but not at this price.

  • Anonymous

    How does the fuel cell dispose of the water it produces?

    • Pete Danko

      Water produced goes out the tailpipe. Keep in mind, we’re talking about a very small amount of water. Gasoline combustion engines actually produce more water per mile than fuel cell engines, regardless of what’s powering the fuel cell (although with an ICE, the water tends to stay in a vapor form longer because it’s released at a higher temperature).