A new pilot project in California plans for at least 5,000 hours of hydrogen powered mobility by UPS newest delivery trucks. These trucks are being designed in partnership with the US DOE and others and will follow the same route and range standards as the company’s internal combustion engine vehicles. The aim of the pilot is to determine how well these trucks work in the field.

The new trucks are outfitted with 45 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery packs paired with a 32 kW hydrogen fuel cell (with 10 kilograms of hydrogen fuel storage). The fuel cell allows for an extended range of around 125 miles.

“The challenge we face with fuel cell technology is to ensure the design can meet the unique operational demands of our delivery vehicles on a commercial scale,” commented Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president global engineering and sustainability. “This project is an essential step to test the zero tailpipe emissions technology and vehicle on the road for UPS and the transportation industry. We have a long history of developing and promoting the use of more sustainable alternative fuels with our Rolling Laboratory, and hope that by bringing our unique expertise to the development of hydrogen fuels, we can help advance the technology.”

More information here.

Photo Credit UPS