A demonstration of a hydrogen-powered truck hauling a trailer filled with IKEA home-furnishing products has been completed in Almhult, Sweden. The truck was powered by the HPDI hydrogen fuel system from Westport Fuel Systems.
According to Westport, this is the second validation of its hydrogen fuel system in a heavy-haul application.
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The demonstration featured a complete hydrogen ecosystem, including green hydrogen production; hydrogen filling stations; Westport’s HPDI technology; vehicle manufacturers; fleet operators; and the end user, IKEA, as a buyer of sustainable transportation services.
“We had a great day participating in the showcasing of the Westport H2 HPDI fuel system technology and are appreciative of this collaborative initiative, and the hospitality of KAJ Inrikes and the surrounding players in the hydrogen ecosystem,” said Ola Henriksson, senior product manager at Scania, in a statement. “Scania is staying true to its purpose of driving the shift towards more sustainable transport systems, and the technology of using hydrogen in the internal combustion engine is an interesting decarbonization pathway because it represents an attractive solution with high maturity and quick time to market.”
Westport is collaborating in Sweden for hydrogen power, working with:
- KAJ Inrikes, a “green-focused” haulage fleet, performing transport for IKEA and other key customers in the Älmhult and Jönköping area.
- Smålandslogistik, a long-haul and distribution fleet, that has identified the environment and decarbonization as important areas where they can contribute meaningful impact through their daily business.
- Metacon AB, a Sweden-based hydrogen fuel provider, including electolyzers and reformers for refining biogas into fossil-free hydrogen.
- Hydri AB, a hydrogen infrastructure company building and operating a complete network of green hydrogen refueling stations in Sweden.
In this demonstration, the Westport HPDI fuel system-equipped truck operating on hydrogen pulled a trailer filled with approximately 40 tons of IKEA home-furnishing products, demonstrating the high performance of the IC hydrogen engine.
“We are pleased to have participated in this demonstration as it illustrates our commitment to IKEA, and all our customers, to support their transport decarbonization goals,” said Kaj Johansson, president of KAJ Inrikes, in a statement. “Westport's H2 HPDI fuel system is an affordable and efficient technology because it keeps the current driveline and compression ignition engine platform while delivering the high performance we need at low cost for decarbonization in long-haul trucking.”
“Heavy hauling is recognized as amongst the most challenging applications within transportation to decarbonize,” said Anders Johansson, VP heavy-duty OEM for Westport. “These heavy transport fleets require sustainable technologies that are viable for their operations as well as practical and affordable for today’s market.”
Said Nicklas Svensson, senior manager at Smålandslogistik, in a statement:
“The Westport H2 HPDI technology left us very impressed. Its high efficiency, powerful performance, and the potential of long-range operations is a very attractive solution. Our confidence is bolstered by its foundation on a traditional powertrain, ensuring minimal investment in new workshop facilities. Additionally, the adaptability of the system to biogas is a significant advantage, aligning with our vision of fuel self-sufficiency because we can utilize local biomass and excess electricity, transforming them into fuel for our truck fleet.”
