General Motors has entered a partnership with Navistar that will see the Detroit-based automaker supply its Hydrotec hydrogen power cubes to the commercial truck manufacturer for use in its new International RH Series fuel cell semi-truck.
Each International RH Series Class 8 semi will use two Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes, which consist of 300-plus hydrogen fuel cells along with integrated thermal and power management systems. The fuel cell cubes will be mounted on the side of the truck just behind the doors, close to where a diesel-powered semi truck’s fuel tanks are usually mounted. Navistar says the fuel cell-powered semi will have a target range of 500+ miles and a hydrogen fueling time of less than 15 minutes.
Each Hydrotec fuel cell power cube can provide a maximum of 80 kilowatts of net power. While the International RH will only use two fuel cell cubes, GM says up to three cubes can be arrayed in a single vehicle to achieve higher power ratings. The fuel cell cubes can also fit Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 trucks.
GM says its hydrogen fuel cell power cubes are a “zero-emissions alternative to diesel engines that work multiple shifts, require rapid refueling and travel with heavy payloads.” Unlike battery-powered electric vehicles, hydrogen EVs can refuel rapidly and are better suited carrying heavy cargo due to the system’s efficiency in storing electrons. The automaker says the Hydrotec power cubes were also designed to perform in even the harshest of environments, making them appropriate for trucking companies operating in the baking heat of the Arizona desert or during a snowy Michigan winter.
Navistar also took a minority stake in hydrogen refueling company OneH2 this week, which will handle the hydrogen production, fueling, storage, delivery and safety management for the fuel cell powered International RH Series truck program.
“Hydrogen fuel cells offer great promise for heavy duty trucks in applications requiring a higher density of energy, fast refueling and additional range,” Navistar president and CEO Persio Lisboa said in a statement. “We are excited to provide customers with added flexibility through a new hydrogen truck ecosystem that combines our vehicles with the hydrogen fuel cell technology of General Motors and the modular, mobile and scalable hydrogen production and fueling capabilities of OneH2.”
“GM’s vision of a world with zero emissions isn’t limited to passenger vehicles,” added GM’s executive vice president for global product development. “We’re thrilled to work with like-minded companies like Navistar and OneH2 to offer a complete solution for progressive carriers that want to eliminate tailpipe emissions with a power solution that can compete with diesel.”
The Navistar fuel cell semi truck will be commercially available for the 2024Â model year, while the first test vehicles will hit the roads in late 2022.
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Comments
GM has become a frickin technology powerhouse that other car companies depend on but no, some people don’t having it at all, they want their fusty , butt of a joke government motors back : ” This electric thing is a hoax folks ,listen to me, other seven something billion people of the earth conspiring this to finish our glorious American rolling coal tradition, EVs will doom our old-faithful grid, it’s too dangerous, stop it, what are you, crazy!!??!! “
Yet GM gets snubbed by CNBC and Forbes in favor of VW when comparisons are made to Tesla in the zero emissions arena.
GM can make a lot of money aside its traditional auto brands when you consider this, GM Military, Cruise, the deal with Honda (that will down the road lead to a merger).
GM as a global mobility provider is a definite growth market compared with rehabing Cadillac.
I don’t love what Mary Barra has done to traditional GM but she’s definitely built additional growth divisions that will prove to be The General’s future far more than Camaro or CT5.
Just as I predicted.
This is big, and fuel cells don’t necessarily have to use Hydrogen. They can use natural gas in the interim. Hydrogen will likely be a primary fuel source, but it’s a ways out.
“Hydrogen is the fuel of the future…….and always will be.”
Can’t remember where I read that, but it’s good for a chuckle.
The future is looking bright for GM and its alternative fuel systems.
PAY ATTENTION. Only 107.28 horsepower per cube? That’s what 80 KW equals. There’s no way that just two of these cubes will be able to power a Class 8 truck. That’s only 214.5 HP. How about double that to at least 4 cubes to give 429 HP. But, from the horrible experience of the Chicago Transit Authority years ago with hydrogen buses, the hydrogen system hates cold weather. In fact, the CTA, gave those buses back, because they didn’t work in the winter months. They dumped them off to the city of Toronto. Yes, you get up to 80 KW at perfect conditions but after a few months, the various systems degrade and you loose power. For the southern USA, these are OK , but not for the northern third of the USA. We have been there and done that. Experience is the ONLY teacher.
No hydrogen system on a heavy truck can work by itself, they can only be used as a boost system. A diesel engine will still be required on a Class 6, 7 or8 truck, but the 107 HP from the power of each cube will allow the truck to accelerate faster from a stop, meaning instead of a 400 HP diesel engine, you could use a 300 HP diesel, plus the 2 cubes with 214 HP added give better economy and faster acceleration. The diesel engine could have a Stop-Start system to shut off at a red light or when the driver is sleeping or taking a federal mandated rest break, and still have heat, AC and power for his microwave, TV, and heated seats.