Firefighters are also switching to hydrogen-powered trucks

Canada’s Loop Energy has announced an agreement with a manufacturer of special-purpose vehicles. This is not an isolated example, as other projects are in the pipeline.

“But, isn’t hydrogen dangerous?” Well, as you can see, it didn’t stop the firefighters in La Manche (France) from acquiring a hydrogen-powered Kangoo in 2015. At that time, Symbio was starting its first projects with Renault (read our article here). And now it’s the turn of fire trucks manufacturers to consider this form of electrification.

Mass production before the end of the year

Loop Energy has announced an agreement with a manufacturer of special-purpose vehicles* that has set up a new platform.

Fuel cells will be integrated as part of a pilot project at Seville airport (Spain). The choice of hydrogen is dictated by the greater range. The press release states that the manufacturer intends to start production in the final quarter and roll out the solution to other sites.

A project at Oxford

In Oxford County, Great Britain, a project has been launched with ULEMCo to convert fire trucks to hydrogen. It is called HySPERT (HYdrogen Special Purpose Electric vehicle platform for Refuse collection and fire Trucks). The project consists in integrating a range extender in the form of a fuel cell. It also involves ambulances and road sweepers. “Heavy fire engines pose a particular challenge and we feel that hydrogen powered fuel cells can play a promising role in delivering on the county’s climate action ambitions.” said Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service a few months ago.

As for the French hydrogen generator manufacturer H2SYS, it worked with Magirus in 2019. It had placed its product inside a fire truck to power all the electrical equipment used during an intervention.

*Unnamed, but operating in 14 countries with more than 1,400 employees.

Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Logan King