Ford Trucks sources hydrogen fuel storage system for prototype

Hexagon Purus has struck a deal with Ford Trucks to deliver a complete hydrogen fuel storage system for the development of a hydrogen-powered truck.

The F-Max fuel cell electric-powered vehicle (FCEV) is part of the Horizon Europe project ZEFES (Zero Emission Freight EcoSystem), a zero-emission logistics deployment project in which Ford Trucks participates with the vision of pioneering future transportation solutions.

As a partner in project ZEFES, a pan-European project specifically targeting decarbonisation of long-haul heavy-duty trucking in Europe, Ford Trucks will develop and deliver a fuel cell electric heavy-duty prototype, which will operate as part of a larger fleet of zero-emission trucks collecting data from real-world operations.

The F-Max FCEV will be Ford Trucks’ first fuel cell-powered vehicle, developed and manufactured in Turkey, and will begin European Ten-T corridor demonstrations in 2025 as part of the ZEFES project goals.

“We focus our investment, R&D and innovation efforts in line with our global electrification strategy to be a leading player in the decarbonization transformation happening in the automotive industry,” said Ford Trucks’ vice president Emrah Duman.

“We are very happy to have the support from Hexagon Purus as an experienced partner in our development plan of a fuel-cell electric heavy-duty truck as part of project ZEFES.”

Michael Kleschinski, European vice president of Hexagon Purus, added: “We are using our in-depth knowledge of lightweight, reliable and safe hydrogen storage technology to help Ford Trucks pave the way for fuel-cell electric long-haul heavy-duty trucking in Europe.

“We are excited to be selected by Ford Trucks to support their development plan as part of project ZEFES”.      

As a part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation to tackle global challenges, project ZEFES aims specifically at addressing the decarbonisation of long-haul heavy-duty freight across Europe. The project will deploy a total of nine different long-haul truck configurations split into six battery electric- and three fuel-cell electric trucks.

The nine trucks will operate for 15 months and collect up to one million kilometers of driving data from real-world operations.

With 40 partners from 14 countries and a total investment program of €35.5 million (£30m), project ZEFES will bring together the road transport value chain to move the transportation sector one step closer to EU’s Green Deal emission targets.