Ford leads consortium testing hydrogen fuel cell technology in E-Transit

Ford Pro, the commercial vehicle and services division of Ford, has announced a three-year trial of hydrogen fuel cell technology on a small fleet of prototype E-Transit vans in the UK. The project, which is partly funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, involves a consortium of six automotive technology leaders and fleet operators, including bp, Ocado Retail, and Viritech. The primary goal is to determine if hydrogen fuel cell technology can enhance the zero-emission driving range of the E-Transit for energy-intensive use cases. Ford believes that fuel cells could be well-suited for its larger commercial vehicles, enabling them to remain emission-free while meeting the high energy demands of customers.

The prototype E-Transit vans will be equipped with a high-power fuel cell stack and optimized hydrogen storage capacity to evaluate the total cost of ownership and operation of a large van with an extended zero-emission range and uptime. The trial will also assess the necessary hydrogen refueling infrastructure required to support the technology. Over the course of the three-year project until 2025, the prototype fleet will operate for six-month periods, generating data to assess the environmental and financial feasibility of the project.

Ford has been researching fuel cell technology since the 1990s and has collaborated with customers to develop prototypes and refine test fleet vehicles. In 2021, the company showcased an E-Transit fuel cell vehicle at the CENEX Low Carbon Vehicle Show. Ford is also involved in various publicly-funded projects in Europe that explore the use of hydrogen technologies for internal combustion engine-powered vehicles and fuel cells.

The consortium aims to validate the business case for the E-Transit fuel cell vehicle by bringing together Ford, fuel cell powertrain experts, and fleet operators to evaluate the necessary supporting infrastructure. The project will also assess end-of-life component recycling and the cost-effectiveness of hydrogen fuel cells compared to other low-emission technologies.

The potential impact of this project is significant. Hydrogen fuel cell technology offers a longer zero-emission driving range compared to battery-electric vehicles, making it an appealing option for commercial vehicles with high energy requirements. The development of this technology could substantially reduce carbon emissions from commercial vehicles and support the UK's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.