Energy firm SSE has started trials of First Hydrogen’s fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), testing the van out of a site in Aberdeen, located next to a hydrogen fuel station.
The vehicle will be closely monitored throughout the trial via onboard instruments to help First Hydrogen engineers understand fuel consumption, mileage, and vehicle performance in different conditions.
It will also enable them to keep track of the vehicle’s use, location, and status in real-time.
First Hydrogen’s FCEV can travel further on a single tank of fuel (500+ km) than equivalent battery electric vehicles (BEV) on a single charge and can carry heavier loads without compromising on range.
With fast refuelling – approximately five minutes compared to five hours for BEV charging – it also means more vehicle uptime.
SSE has already pledged to switch 2,500 of its vehicles to electric and install charging points for its 11,000 employees to use.
Ronnie Fleming, chief procurement officer at SSE, said, “In line with our commitment to net zero and EV100 pledge to electrify our fleet, we’re keen to explore all alternative fuel options. It’s been really interesting to see the vehicle in action, for our drivers to experience how it operates in practice and for our fleet managers to evaluate how hydrogen vehicles could fit into our future fleets should the infrastructure further develop.”
Steve Gill, CEO for First Hydrogen Automotive, said, “We are thrilled to be operating in Aberdeen, which is already championing hydrogen use and is establishing good infrastructure.
“Data collected during the trial will help us to optimize the vehicle, demonstrate its capabilities for future customers and inform further development.”
