Hydrogen ICE Van Tested in 656-mile Winter Dash

A French fueling systems company claims it has speed-tested its internal-combustion engine, burning hydrogen fuel in a 656-mile (1,056-km) endurance run over a period of 12 hours.

The company, Phinia, says one of its hydrogen ICE (H2ICE) vans was tested fully loaded in temperatures as low as -4C (25F). It claims this test illustrates the potential of hydrogen as a practical alternative fuel for ICE-powered vehicles with particular focus on high-intensity applications in the trucking and light-commercial-vehicle transportation industries.

It adds that the round-trip test, starting and ending in Blois, France, makes the case for H2ICE use in the transportation industry which is under increasing pressure to reduce vehicle emissions.

At the same time, the technology can address the specific needs of heavy-duty transportation which often requires continuous high-power operation, with factors like extreme temperatures, heavy loads, continuous operating cycles and dirty operating environments posing additional challenges. H2ICE systems are emerging as a viable solution, particularly for applications where range, payload capacity and refueling times are critical factors.

Hydrogen ICE powertrains also have the added advantage of being much lighter than battery-electric systems, allowing for less of an impact on the vehicle’s haulage capacities.

Todd Anderson, chief technology officer at Phinia, says: “This experiment is just a glimpse into the potential that H2ICE technology has to change the face of sustainable transportation. The success of this 1000+ km on-road demonstration clearly illustrates that H2ICE engines can deliver the power, durability, performance,and range necessary for demanding applications, all while producing near-zero CO2 emissions."