Tevva launches hydrogen electric HGV

The Tilbury-headquartered scale-up, which has so far raised $140m in funding, will unveil its hydrogen electric vehicle alongside its latest full-battery electric HGV at the Road Transport Expo in Warwickshire.

Hydrogen has been used safely in buses and other vehicles in more than 20 countries for years and has a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries or diesel. These properties make it attractive for use in larger commercial vehicles.

By adding a hydrogen fuel cell system to its battery-electric HGV design, Tevva is aiming to deliver zero-emission solutions that will work for the majority of fleet operators across a range of industries. The fuel cell system, provided by Loop Energy, tops up the battery, extending the vehicle’s range and allowing the truck to carry heavier loads over longer distances.

One advantage of using the fuel cell as a range extender, rather than the primary source of power, is that it allows Tevva to provide smaller, cheaper and lighter fuel cells and operate these at the highest possible efficiency.

According to Tevva, its 7.5-tonne hydrogen electric truck ‘comfortably meets and exceeds’ demanding duty cycles for nearly all urban and extra-urban use cases. The vehicle has a range of up to 310 miles or 500 kilometres. Hydrogen refuelling takes a similar time to diesel truck refuelling (5-20 minutes).

Tevva CEO and founder Asher Bennett said that the launch is a landmark moment for the company, and for UK manufacturing.

“We firmly believe that the post-fossil fuel future, which is quickly approaching, will see a new range of technologies and fuels take centre stage in the transport industry,” Bennett said. 

“By embracing hydrogen, we are futureproofing ourselves, our clients and the industries and communities they operate in. We also pride ourselves on the fact that our vehicles are safe, reliable and go the distance.”

Bennett added that Tevva believes the truck will be a popular choice for fleet operators across the UK, Europe and North America.