MECA supports multiple pathways to simultaneously improve air quality while decarbonizing transportation. In furtherance of this goal, we are a partner in the Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2ICE) Consortium, which includes OEMs, hydrogen producers, lubricant additive suppliers and clean mobility suppliers working side-by-side to develop a zero carbon fuel ultra-low emissions truck. This week, the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) led team is at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACTExpo) in Las Vegas where conference attendees can get a close-up view of a hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck.
Several MECA members supplied the necessary hardware and engineering expertise to allow SwRI to convert the Cummins X15N engine to operate on zero carbon hydrogen and then install this into a Class 8 heavy-duty truck. These types of trucks are found around our nation’s freight hubs, including ports and railyards, as well as on highways from coast to coast. The demonstration vehicle’s CO2 emissions were measured at 1.5 g/hp-hr, which is over 99% lower than a comparable diesel engine. In addition, when testing the engine with aftertreatment parts aged out to full useful life, tailpipe NOx emissions were less than 0.01 g/hp-hr across EPA’s certification cycles. H2ICE can already exceed the EPA and CARB 2027 NOx and nitrous oxide emission limits from low-load to highway operation. Clean mobility suppliers have played an integral part in the heavy-duty vehicle success story that has led to a reduction in their emissions by over 99% since 1990.
One of the main benefits of H2ICE is lower upfront capital costs due to the leveraging of existing investments in manufacturing capacity in engines, emission controls and powertrains as well as familiar vehicle servicing. H2ICE vehicles share many components with today’s diesel and natural gas-powered vehicle fleet, including the base engine, installation parts, powertrain components and aftertreatment system architectures. Commercialization of H2ICE trucks is underway, with sales projected to start in the next few years, providing truck-owners with a solution for more difficult to electrify applications. Furthermore, the early introduction of H2ICE trucks will help to accelerate the build-out of the hydrogen infrastructure and the manufacturing capability for hydrogen storage tanks to reduce their cost through economies of scale. Ultimately, fleets will be able to seamlessly transition to operating fuel cell trucks as they become more available and cost competitive while utilizing the same hydrogen infrastructure.
Don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to Las Vegas the week of May 20th. The H2ICE demonstration truck will be making a stop in Sacramento for the California Hydrogen Leadership Summit from June 16-17. Stop by to learn more about this zero carbon fuel ultra-low emission technology.