The start-up successfully recharged two DHL electric vehicles using a system developed in collaboration with Okshosh AeroTech*. This fuel cell powered generator allows the batteries to be recharged without going through a grid.
The system was presented before statically at Toulouse-Blagnac airport, alongside a demo of the hydrogen cartridge system for future retrofitted regional aircraft. This time, Universal Hydrogen used it in real-life conditions at the Los Angeles Hawthorne airport, in the presence of a number of airline representatives.
The logistic charging solution is called H2AmpCart. It is powered by a fuel cell and can act as a mobile battery charger. This charger makes it easy to supply power to ground assistance equipment. The advantage lies in the fact that the charger can be transported by trailer to the runway, whether it’s a small airport or a major one. This saves time and avoids equipment downtime.
“For operators of larger aircraft, however, a hydrogen airplane solution won’t enter the market until the mid-2030s, yet they still have a clear and urgent need to decarbonize their operations. we identified the ways in which our unique modular technology could be adapted to meet this need,” stated Rod Williams, Chief Commercial Officer at Universal Hydrogen.
*Formerly called JBT AeoTech
The first chargers will be deployed towards the end of 2024.
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Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Mariem Ben Tili
