EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies and Akkodis intend to test the NM20 fuel cell stack when it comes to real-world driving scenarios. Akkodis, which is the Swiss Adecco Group’s digital engineering consultancy, is involved in the development and assembly of the fuel cell-powered powertrain along with its integration into a 40-tonne hydrogen truck.
EKPO said the vehicle is anticipated to offer vital operational information and showcase the performance of the technology in real-life scenarios during its following deployment with a logistics company.
It is well to be noted that the NM20 truck in this project is used as a mobile platform in terms of development and validation. In addition to the ongoing test bench evaluations, real-world driving is planned to offer an understanding of how fuel cell technology operates under different load profiles, conditions in the environment and operational needs. The project is a core element of EKPO’s system engineering approach. The fuel cell stack is being set up and verified at the system level in a preliminary development phase, the developers say. EKPO states that this makes it possible to identify and improve the interactions between the stack, balance of plant, thermal management, control systems, and the high-voltage architecture at early stages.
The data which is obtained is going to directly flow into the further development of the NM20 and go on to support the shift of the technology into series production, says EKPO.
Notably, EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies created the NM20 fuel cell stack, designed for the needs of heavy-duty applications that require high power output as well as efficiency.
The operating data collected in the real world is going to provide important insights when it comes to further development and also make a major contribution to the industrialization of hydrogen-powered drivetrains, opines Dr Stefan Dwenger, the Managing Director.
According to the CEO of Akkodis Germany, Thomas Klukas, “Integrating a fuel cell into real-world logistics operations is a complex undertaking. It is precisely here that Akkodis excels: we combine technology, system architecture, hardware, and software into a fully functioning system. Working alongside EKPO, we are creating new opportunities to deploy hydrogen technology in heavy-duty transportation and beyond. The NM20 is currently the most powerful fuel cell stack in EKPO’s portfolio and is based on the company’s PEM fuel cell technology. The new development is rated at up to 400 kW and is designed for a service life of over 25,000 operating hours, making it particularly suitable for “cost-effective fuel cell solutions in long-haul transport”.
When it comes to the demonstration vehicle, a one-stack-one-system approach is used. This means that the hydrogen truck is powered by just one NM20 fuel cell stack, which has a system output of almost 360 kW and efficiencies of around 61%, the partners say.
The fact is that this concept indicates that high-performance fuel cell systems can be achieved without complicated multistack architectures. The current-voltage characteristics of NM20 allow for easy integration into modern high-voltage systems and open up possibilities for megawatt-scale uses which go beyond road transport, state the partners.
Interestingly, the project is intended to go much further than testing one vehicle. The partners will make use of the data obtained on system architecture, operating strategies and key system components as a basis for the development of future fuel cell systems.
The partners say the project will establish a benchmark platform for system integrators as well as vehicle manufacturers so as to support design, integration and verification of their own applications.
According to the project team, the findings ought to indicate that the development efforts can be minimised, integration risks reduced, and new systems brought to market preparedness more rapidly. The findings are not restricted to road freight transport but can be transferred to other sectors as well, such as static energy supply, transportation, or off-highway machinery.
The development and commercialization of the NM20 stack is backed by the European funding program IPCEI – Important Project of Common European Interest. EKPO is a complete-service supplier of fuel cell stacks and standard parts for a wide range of applications, including passenger cars, trucks, light commercial vehicles, buses, rail and marine applications. EKPO is a joint venture between ElringKlinger, the automotive supplier, and OPmobility.