The Hannover IAA show invite us to enter the beginning of a new era in freight transport? In any case, as for the automobile market, electrification continues to advance.
Iveco, Renault, Ford, VW, these manufacturers are betting everything on electricity! On the VW stand, he is the star! The ID.Buzz crowned utility of the year 2023. It illustrates the Volkswagen group’s strategy to further accelerate sales of electric cars… “The electric cars we currently produce are delivered CO2 neutral to the customer. This is a technology that will spread to meet the demands of Europe which wants CO2 neutral mobility”, explains Jean-Marc Ponteville, Volkswagen PR Manager.
On its way, the electric vehicle is likely to cross its hydrogen counterpart. Both are comparable. Both operate by a motor powered by electricity. The difference ? That’s where it comes from… The hydrogen engine only emits water… Some people don’t hesitate to say that it’s the energy of the future.
Hydrogen in addition to electric
Present at the IAA show, the Hyvia joint venture exhibited its entire range of hydrogen vehicles. Hyvia, a joint venture between Renault and Plugpower, an American company specializing in the development of hydrogen fuel cells, wants to provide carbon-free mobility solutions with zero-emission vehicles. “Hydrogen complements the electric offer. Today, when you have an electric vehicle like a truck, the range remains relatively limited. Unless you add too many batteries and therefore somewhere too much weight”, explains David Holderbach, President Hyvia.
Hydrogen – electric! The match is on… Everyone puts forward their arguments. Let’s take one. The price… Far from being anecdotal these days. “It takes about 2 kg to cover 100 km with our hydrogen van. Or 24 euros. In diesel this represents ten liters. Either 20 to 24 euros depending on where you live. In Germany, it is cheaper in hydrogen since it is subsidized says President Yvia in Hanover.
“It’s the cheapest alternative to gas, petrol or diesel, for example. There is also an existing electrical distribution network that needs to be expanded. But above all, the battery-powered electric car offers the best performance. With the same amount of energy, it is with this car that you will go the farthest. The yield is approaching 80% or more”, explains Jean-Marc Ponteville.
Nikola hydrogen truck on our roads in 2024
For heavy mobility in any case, trucks, buses, coaches, trains, boats, planes, hydrogen has not finished developing its full potential. In Hanover, the American car manufacturer Nikola and its partner IVECO unveiled its future hydrogen heavyweight. Autonomy: 800 kilometers and tanks that can be refueled in less than 20 minutes.
« It is a zero-emission truck, equipped with hydrogen-powered fuel cells. It is also equipped with a battery system for managing vehicle charging. It has hydrogen cylinders with a pressure of 700 bar, for a total capacity of 70 kg, which gives the vehicle a range of 800 km”. explains Christian Appel, Global Chief Engineer Nikola. Is hydrogen the solution of the future for mobility in the field of road transport? « I think it is essential to offer zero-emission vehicles in the transport sector and for utility vehicles. This is really a sector where we can make a difference in order to reduce our ecological footprint. It is very important to be able to offer this technology on the American and European market. Whether for electric vehicles or fuel cell vehicles. We really want to get the market moving towards these options. It is with enthusiasm that we invite all the other players in the transport sector in this decarbonization effort…”.
And the autonomous vehicle will you tell me? Apart from the Swedish Einride, the driverless truck was the big absentee from the show. Not so long ago, they were all the rage. From there to what they hit the road tomorrow… (Manu Yvens)