Fuel-cell technology being developed in Scandinavian could make a major difference to the levels of carbon dioxide pumped out by lorries. Fitted aboard a lorry, such a unit would kick in during engine idling periods, which are commonplace with commercial vehicles.
With 32million commercial vehicles in Europe, of which about six million are big lorries, even a modest gain in green credentials would have a big impact.
The same could apply in the US and Canada, where the 2.3million trucks trundling the highways are larger and less efficient than their European cousins.
It is clear to any motorist who cares to look that the number of lorries on the road is constantly increasing. There are three times as many of them as there were 30 years ago in Europe alone.
Many HGVs on both sides of the Atlantic are fitted with a bunk, and that means that drivers will often leave their engines on to provide heat at night, especially during the winter.
The fuels cell that four Scandinavian industrial companies are developing in collaboration with the Norwegian research organisation, SINTEF, could also power forklift trucks.
Volvo, StatoilHydro, Danish company H2 Logic, Powercell Sweden AB and SINTEF have joined forces to develop the system. The electricity generated by this “mini power station” could be capable of stopping heavy goods vehicle engines from having to run in neutral when their drivers are resting, and replace the use of diesel fuel in forklift trucks.
In the US alone, HGVs that run in neutral during rest pauses generate 1.1million tonnes of CO a year, more than the total emissions produced by all Norwegian road transport.
A single forklift truck powered by fuel cells can reduce CO emissions by the equivalent of eight private cars.
Fuel cells are small power stations and, when they are powered by hydrogen, their only waste product is water.
The new Scandinavian system has been specially developed for operation at sub-zero temperatures. Forklift trucks using the new system can, therefore, be operated outdoors on cold winter days and in cold-stores.
Fuel cells of this type will also find other applications. At first, the Scandinavian fuel cell will be adapted for use in pleasure boats.