A transport refrigeration unit that works with a hydrogen fuel cell is finally ready for a road test in France.
Reports reveal that the FresH2 fuel cell project was recently launched by the popular company Bosch and it is now ready to power the transport refrigeration unit, Carrier Vector HE 19, which is installed over on a semi-trailer. It is linked to Lamberet, the specialized French refrigeration vehicle carriage builder in the market.
Note that the development of this new product that offers a zero-emission solution is financed by Bosch and the manufacturing task is completed at the Bosch site located in the Rodez area of France. Furthermore, the road-testing operations are being managed and monitored by STEF, the well-known logistics, and transport specialist company.
FresH2 is a quiet and clean solution for delivering electricity that can be further used to serve the refrigeration units installed on road transport semi-trailers that have temperature-controlled systems.
The hydrogen fuel cell technology comes with a viable solution to replace traditional diesel engines that are commonly used in refrigerated transport. These old systems are responsible for releasing a massive range of particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide. Therefore, experts find them harmful to use, especially when the entire world is already in trouble due to global warming and other environmental health issues. On the other side, the hydrogen cells do not release any harmful noise or emissions.
FresH2 is loaded with fuel cells that are powered by hydrogen tanks. One electronic unit is also added to the system that helps in converting the direct current received from the cell into an alternating current that can further operate the refrigeration unit. The main advantage of this system is the direct interface between the refrigeration unit and fuel cell without using any buffering battery system on-board.
The associated teams have planned the testing of the proposed technology under real usage conditions currently, and the execution will be done at the Chambery site of STEF in France. Once this innovative model receives certifications from all of the concerned departments, it will get road licensing. The professionals will also conduct tests to estimate its fuel efficiency while identifying the main areas of improvement that could be added to the industrialized version in the future.
The ultimate goal of Bosch, through this innovation, is to present a turnkey and competitive solution at the Rodez factory with an ability to get integrated into any refrigerated semi-trailer. This advancement may contribute to the climate neutrality goal at a large scale, and it will automatically prove its edge in the transport sector.
The FresH2 system is designed with the pallet rack size, which is located on the semi-trailer’s wheelbase. As per Lamberet, the integration doesn’t alter the appearance, overall height, and usable volume of the refrigerated semi-trailer. Moreover, it is claimed to adapt perfectly well to existing as well as new semi-trailers in the market.
You can expect to see these hydrogen fuel cell refrigerated trailers soon on the roads, and they will contribute to environmental management in the years to come.
Citation
https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/hydrogen-fuel-cell-refrigerated-trailer-begins-road-testing/