Under the supervision of the new project manager, engineer Nicolas Hatat, the hydrogen-powered truck alternates between a series of drives in private enclosures, loaded in stages up to the limits set by its 44-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and trips to the workshop to fine-tune the components and systems of the powertrain.

This development phase is key for the final tuning to ensure its efficiency and safety in road use. It is one of the most demanding for the vehicle, whose range, performance and reliability must be optimum whatever the loads carried. This is a challenge for GreenGT Technologies, as there is no other heavy goods vehicles in France or in Europe with an electric-hydrogen powertrain, in 44-tonne configuration (carrier + trailer), which has reached this stage of development.

These tests will continue until the vehicle’s operation is fully validated. The final tests will take it to the limits of its autonomy (around 450 km), on a fully loaded basis, on a variety of route configurations, in changing weather conditions.

When everything is finalised, the Cathyopé project could be put into operation in the south of France, within the fleet of heavy vehicles of Transports Chabas, to deliver fresh products to Carrefour shops in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Logan King