BMW Tests Hydrogen Truck in Germany; New Step to Cut Transport Emissions
BMW has begun testing an 18-tonne truck powered by a hydrogen internal combustion engine at its Leipzig plant in Germany. The project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in industrial transport and will assess the truck's performance under real-world conditions, including long-distance routes and three-shift operations.
According to Ambassador Arjan, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation industry has become one of the priorities of the world's major car manufacturers. While three-wheeled electric trucks and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been developed as options to reduce emissions, BMW is exploring another solution: using hydrogen in internal combustion engines.
This company has put an 18-ton truck equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine into operation at its factory in Leipzig, Germany. Unlike fuel cell cars that generate electricity using the chemical reaction of hydrogen, this truck burns hydrogen directly in the engine.
BMW's goal is to determine whether the technology can work well in industrial transportation, especially on routes that require continuous activity and short stop times.
How does the BMW hydrogen truck work?
The BMW test truck uses a hydrogen internal combustion engine, whose structure is developed based on the technology of conventional diesel engines. The main difference between this system and normal trucks is the type of fuel used; Instead of diesel, hydrogen burns in the engine and provides the energy needed to move the car.
One of the important features of this technology is the absence of direct carbon dioxide emissions from burning hydrogen fuel. However, hydrogen combustion may produce nitrogen oxides under certain conditions; Therefore, in order to evaluate the actual amount of truck pollution, other pollutants should be checked in addition to carbon dioxide.
On the other hand, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions depends on the hydrogen production method. If hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels and without emission controls, part of its environmental advantage is lost. In contrast, the use of hydrogen produced with renewable energies can help further reduce emissions over the entire fuel life cycle.
Testing the 18-ton truck at the Leipzig factory
In the first stage, BMW uses this truck to transport parts to the production department of external car parts in the Leipzig factory. This division produces various plastic parts, including bumpers and spoilers.
In the next step, the plan is for the truck to move the manufactured parts to the vehicle assembly lines according to the required schedule. Such an operation is dependent on the regular delivery of parts, and any delay in transportation can affect the production process.
BMW also plans to test the truck on longer routes and heavier plant operations. Working in three shifts is one of the important conditions of this experiment; Because in such a situation, vehicle reliability, refueling time and maintenance costs become more important.
According to the announcement of this company, this project is the first use of a truck equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine in the normal operation of car production in Germany. The data obtained from this test is supposed to help evaluate the technical and economic performance of this technology in the real environment.
Are hydrogen trucks better than electric models?
In this project, BMW does not intend to introduce hydrogen trucks as a definite replacement for all electric trucks. The company is investigating under what conditions each technology would be most efficient.
Battery electric trucks are suitable for many transportation routes, but daily operation, load weight, downtime and access to high-power chargers affect their performance. In some industrial operations where the vehicle must be active for long hours, the time required for charging can become one of the operational limitations.
In contrast, a potential hydrogen truck could refuel in a shorter period of time and continue to operate over multiple shifts. This feature is important in routes where a long stop for charging is not possible.
Of course, fast refueling is only a real advantage when a hydrogen station is available and fuel supply is done at an acceptable cost. The creation of hydrogen infrastructure, its safe transportation and storage, and the supply of fuel with the right quality are still important challenges of this technology.
In terms of energy efficiency, it should also be noted that the hydrogen combustion engine, unlike the fuel cell system, directly converts the chemical energy of hydrogen into mechanical energy through combustion. This process is usually associated with more energy loss than using hydrogen in a fuel cell. Compared to battery-powered trucks, the process of converting electricity to hydrogen and then using it in a combustion engine usually consumes more energy.
For this reason, the choice between an electric truck, a fuel cell, and a hydrogen combustion engine should be made considering the operating conditions, total cost, energy availability, and greenhouse gas emissions.
use of diesel technology; An important advantage of the hydrogen combustion engine
One of the interesting features in the BMW project is the use of an engineering structure derived from common internal combustion engines. The sharing of some technical components with existing engines can enable the use of part of the maintenance knowledge and current workshop capacities.
This may simplify the process of introducing hydrogen trucks into some commercial fleets; However, the hydrogen engine still requires special equipment, safety systems and maintenance instructions tailored to the characteristics of hydrogen.
BMW also checks the performance of the engine under heavy load conditions and frequent changes in the amount of power required. These features are important in industrial transportation; Because the trucks must be able to perform their daily tasks without disrupting the production schedule.
The description of this project also mentions the possibility of hydrogen combustion engine being less sensitive to some changes in fuel quality compared to fuel cell systems. However, actual performance depends on engine specifications and fuel standards used, and cannot be generalized to all hydrogen engines.
The HyCET project is implemented with the support of the German government
The truck test in Leipzig is part of the research and development project HyCET, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport. The aim of this plan is to develop and test trucks equipped with hydrogen combustion engines in real operating conditions and to investigate their technical performance, costs and environmental effects.
The BMW Group is leading the project and several companies active in the fields of engine, logistics and hydrogen infrastructure are participating in it. DEUTZ has been in charge of developing the hydrogen engine, Rudolph Logistics Group is responsible for operating the truck, and TEAL MOBILITY has also participated in the installation of the required hydrogen refueling stations.
Combining technical development with everyday truck use allows researchers to test the performance of this technology in conditions that differ from laboratory environments. Reliability, hydrogen consumption, maintenance cost and infrastructure needs are among the issues that are important in the evaluation of this project.
What role does hydrogen play in BMW's emissions reduction program?
BMW does not rely on a single technology to reduce emissions in its logistics network. This company is considering different solutions to choose the most appropriate option for each path and type of activity.
Battery electric trucks, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and hydrogen combustion engine trucks have different characteristics. For example, short distances with the possibility of regular charging may be suitable for battery-powered trucks; While some long routes or multi-pass operations may need to consider other options.
In the meantime, hydrogen can only contribute to a significant reduction in emissions if its production and distribution are accompanied by minimal pollution. Fuel cost, access to refueling stations and overall efficiency of the system also play a role in determining the economic justification of this technology.
The Leipzig test is supposed to help BMW determine, based on practical data, which parts of the company's logistics operations are worth using hydrogen combustion engines.
Is the hydrogen truck the future of heavy transport?
BMW's 18-ton truck test in Germany is another step in exploring alternative technologies to reduce industrial transport emissions. By using a hydrogen combustion engine and testing it in real plant operations, this project allows the evaluation of vehicle performance on parts transportation routes, long operations, and multiple work shifts.
Despite advantages such as the absence of direct carbon dioxide emissions from hydrogen combustion and the possibility of rapid refueling, challenges such as energy efficiency, cost of fuel supply, limited infrastructure and emissions from hydrogen production still remain.
Therefore, hydrogen trucks cannot be considered a definite replacement for all diesel or electric trucks in the current situation. The main value of the HyCET project is that, by collecting real data, it will determine under what conditions this technology can be used technically, economically and environmentally.
Ultimately, the future of heavy transportation will likely depend on a combination of technologies; A combination where route type, load, stop time, energy cost and emissions determine which system is best for each application.