Automotive and green energy company First Hydrogen has completed initial commissioning trials on its first demonstrator vehicles ahead of major fleet trials in early 2023. 

Real-world fleet trials are due to start early next year

The firm announced last month that it was starting the trials on its two demonstrator hydrogen-powered LCVs, which were revealed earlier this year.

The vehicles, which have been sourced from Volkswagen Group brand MAN and integrated with the First Hydrogen FCE1 fuel cell propulsion system, have now passed important vehicle control system tests said to ensure they meet the highest possible safety standards for hydrogen and high voltage electrical safety systems.

The testing is run by First Hydrogen’s automotive build partner, AVL, one of the world’s leading mobility technology companies for development, simulation and testing in the automotive industry and beyond.

This important step enables the vehicles to be tested in mixed road and driving conditions and to confirm performance ahead of First Hydrogen’s real-world operational trials with major fleet operators in early 2023.

Since announcing the trials, which is co-ordinated through Element Energy and the UK Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium (AFHC), a further two fleets have expressed interest in participating in the demonstration programme.

A total of 12 fleet operators working across a range of industries –  including telecoms, utilities, infrastructure, delivery, grocery and healthcare – have now signed up to participate. They will technically evaluate First Hydrogen’s fuel cell vehicles in terms of payload, range and ease of refuelling and compare ease of use with battery electric alternatives.

The trials are expected to help secure indications of interest for future vehicle orders.

Steve Gill, CEO at First Hydrogen Automotive, said: “Completion of the first trials is a key milestone in our demonstrators’ build and helps us to progress to the next stages of development for the vehicle’s hydrogen system, filling trials and dynamic road running.”

He added: “With real-world fleet trials due to start early next year, we are moving towards our goal of accelerating adoption of zero-emission vehicles in the light commercial vehicle market.

“We are also hugely encouraged by the appetite from AHFC members, which includes some of the largest fleet operators in the UK, to trial hydrogen-powered vehicles.

“Not only will these trials provide unique proprietary data for our next generation of vehicles, the trials are also expected to generate future demand and establish a customer base.”