Volvo forges ahead with hydrogen combustion
Volvo Trucks has announced that on-road tests with trucks using hydrogen in combustion engines will begin in 2026, with a commercial launch to follow towards the end of the decade.
The company says hydrogen trucks will be especially suitable over longer distances and in regions where there is sparse charging infrastructure, or where time for battery recharging is limited.
Testing in labs and in vehicles is already ongoing, says Volvo, whose hydrogen combustion trucks are set to complement the rest of its alternative fuels portfolio which includes battery-electrics, fuel cell electrics and trucks running on renewable fuels such as biogas and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
“Trucks where the traditional internal combustion engine remains but runs on hydrogen will have the same performance and reliability as our diesel trucks, but with the added benefit of potentially net zero CO2 emissions well-to-wheel,” said Jan Hjelmgren, head of product management and quality at Volvo Trucks.
The manufacturer points out that because of the low CO2 emissions from hydrogen combustion, such trucks will be categorised as zero-emission vehicles under the new CO2 emission standards recently agreed by the EU.
Volvo hydrogen combustion trucks will feature High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology, which sees a small amount of ignition fuel injected with high pressure, enabling compression ignition before the addition of hydrogen. This is said to increase energy efficiency and engine power, while lowering fuel consumption.
The manufacturer has recently finalised an agreement with low-carbon fuelling systems specialist Westport Fuel Systems to establish a joint venture utilising HPDI technology.