Symbio has unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Class 8 truck which the companies claim matches the performance of a 15-litre diesel truck.
Coming as part of Symbio’s H2 Central Valley Express project, the truck was developed and integrated by the French fuel cell manufacturer in California to meet demand for zero-emission regional haul trucking operations.
Using a Freightliner Cascadia Class 8 tractor, the diesel engine was replaced with Symbio’s 400kW StackPack fuel cell system, powered by 70kg of hydrogen stored on-board at 700 bar to deliver a range of over 450 miles per fuelling.
Expected to hit the road by the end of the year, the truck will be trialled for 12 months on a 400 miles route between Inland Empire and Northern San Joaquin Valley, California.
Featuring steep climbs and descents as well as highspeed sections, the trail will be support with two fuelling stops in the Central Valley.
Rob Del Core, General Manager of Symbio North America, said the fuel cell retrofit allowed for “significant engine weight reduction without compromise on performance.”
To further improve efficiency, Symbio shareholder Michelin provided low-rolling resistance tyres for the vehicle to further reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO).
The pilot truck is set to provide data to inform Michelin’s development of hydrogen truck-specific tyres.
Del Core, said, “This fuel cell truck development and demonstration constitute a major strategic step forward for Symbio in the US, as we are developing and solidifying our US sales and manufacturing footprint.”
It comes as the company, equally owned by Forvia, Michelin and Stellantis, plans to produce 200,000 fuel cell units per year worldwide by 2030.
Symbio’s ambitious plans to produce 200,000 fuel cell units by 2030
© Symbio | SymphonHy headquarters
While hydrogen-powered mobility has taken its fair share of knocks in recent years, with some reports criticising its ability to take a significant share of the clean mobility market, growth continues across various regions.
According to the Hydrogen Council, over 79,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles took were on the world’s roads in 2023¹. It has also been estimated that a potential growth in the global fuel cell market of over 20% between 2022 and 2028 will take place – to reach a valuation of $120m².
As more jurisdictions look to cut the emissions from the mobility sector, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), with their longer ranges and shorter refuelling times, continue to catch the eye of major automotive manufacturers – especially in the heavy-duty segment.
Following the announcement, while on the ground at Hyvolution in Paris, Philippe Rosier, CEO of French-based Symbio told H2 View the company’s ambitious fuel cell production plans was proof that there is a “real and concrete” hunger for hydrogen mobility…
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