Rivus is to start running trials of First Hydrogen’s LCV, helping shape insights into the benefits and practicality of adopting hydrogen mobility.

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The fleet management firm is the first company to participate in vehicle trials with First Hydrogen’s Generation I fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), revealed last year.

The trials will start with a driver training day hosted by First Hydrogen and mobility expert AVL, which is supporting vehicle development, at Horiba Mira’s proving ground, near Coventry.

Rivus will then test one of First Hydrogen’s LCVs for a month in the Birmingham and Sheffield areas, which have hydrogen refuelling stations at hand. The vehicle will be tested on pre-planned routes to measure performance under different driving conditions. Telematics and onboard instruments will capture data on vehicle performance, efficiency, and fuel consumption.

The findings will contribute to First Hydrogen’s overall evaluation and mileage accumulation programme, which supports vehicle optimisation and determines total cost of ownership (TCO).

Rivus will produce its own independent report at the end of the trial, analysing vehicle performance and providing findings to fleet managers and Rivus customers. The report will share valuable insight into the benefits and practicality of adopting hydrogen mobility.

In total, 15 major fleet operators have already registered an interest in taking part in First Hydrogen’s 12-18-month LCV trial programme, which is being co-ordinated through the UK Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium (AFHC). Vehicle operators, which cover a variety of sectors, will use First Hydrogen’s demonstrator vehicles alongside their existing fleets to evaluate the benefits of different vehicle technologies.

Hydrogen powertrains are seen as particularly beneficial to the commercial vehicle sector due to their greater range, higher payload capacity and faster refuelling than equivalent battery electric vehicles. First Hydrogen’s vehicle has a range of 400-600km (249-373 miles) on a single fuel tank filled at 700 bar, which takes approximately five minutes to fill. First Hydrogen is also developing its Generation II concept vehicle, which it says will be available with either fuel cell electric or battery electric drivetrains.

Steve Gill, CEO Automotive at First Hydrogen, said: “Rivus’ input will help us to optimise performance and will also inform our plans for future vehicle development and deployment. The team’s expertise will also help us to support fleet operators to switch to zero-emission vehicles.”

Thomas Maerz, CDO at Rivus, added: “Having this time to evaluate the vehicle’s capabilities will significantly add to our insight into alternative fuels, especially in the LCV class. In light of 2030 targets, this knowledge enables us to help operators with critical fleets that need to transition to zero emission. Providing this support gives our customers confidence in their transition and fuels our ambition to create a cleaner and more sustainable future.”