Loop’s Fuel Cell Range Extender to Be Evaluated in SoCal
Loop Energy announced its heavy-duty fuel cell range extender will power two zero-emissions, hybrid-electric Class 8 drayage trucks as part of a fuel cell truck project in Southern California.
The Fast Track Fuel Cell Truck Project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Loop Energy’s hydrogen fuel cell range extenders act as onboard power generators and charge batteries by capturing energy derived through regenerative braking. This hybrid solution reduces the size and weight of batteries compared with a pure battery-electric truck, according to the Burnaby, British Columbia-based company.
California-based Transportation Power Inc., also known as TransPower, will integrate the fuel cell range extenders into two Peterbilt 579 truck gliders. The trucks, each weighing up to 80,000 pounds, are scheduled to enter daily operational service in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas in the second quarter of 2019.
Peterbilt Motors Co. is a brand of Paccar Inc.
TransPower also will provide battery-electric drive systems and storage technology that is built around batteries provided by Nissan — all the technology combined extends the operating range of the trucks beyond 200 miles.
“Peterbilt is committed to investing in sustainable transportation solutions and looks forward to working closely with Fast Track to validate the performance of Loop Energy’s fuel cell hybrid-electric powertrains in real-world operating conditions,” Bill Kahn, Peterbilt manager of advanced concepts, said in a statement.
