Symbio, in partnership with Michelin, presents first hydrogen heavy-duty truck

Two years after announcing the H2 Central Valley Express project, USA-based zero-emission hydrogen mobility firm Symbio has unveiled a hydrogen-fuelled, regional-haul Class 8 truck. It developed and integrated this innovative vehicle in-house and has equipped it with EV-specific tyres from co-shareholder Michelin that offer improved fuel economy and reduced wear.

The H2 Central Valley Express project by Symbio aims to develop and demonstrate a hydrogen fuel cell truck that matches the performance of a 15-litre diesel truck, providing a zero-emission solution for demanding regional-haul operations.

Symbio has engineered a heavy-duty, long-haul truck ready fuel cell powertrain, powered by its advanced fuel cell technology, into a Freightliner Cascadia Class 8 tractor. It has replaced the traditional diesel engine with its 400 kW StackPack fuel cell system, which includes four packaged sub-systems of Symbio’s proprietary stack technology. This technology has proven its reliability with over 5 million miles (8 million km) of on-road experience. The 400kW power system’s control strategy is optimised to deliver superior energy balance and power, meeting the functional requirements of a diesel truck. With a 70kg hydrogen tank onboard, the fuel cell truck can travel over 450 miles per refuelling event.

The demonstration aims to test low-rolling resistance tyres on a zero-emission truck. To this end, Michelin has provided next-generation low-rolling resistance tyres that combine safety, longevity, and improved fuel efficiency, thereby enhancing the vehicle’s total cost of ownership. It also developed these tyres to handle higher torque loads during acceleration, which differ from those of internal combustion engine trucks. The data collected will inform the development of tyres suited to the needs of hydrogen trucks.

“Perfectly suited” to decarbonise heavy-duty mobility

Michelin considers hydrogen “perfectly suited to decarbonise heavy-duty mobility,” offering advantages such as long range, higher payload, fast refuelling, and reduced total cost of ownership. It is particularly beneficial for commercial vehicles that require longer driving ranges and quick refuelling times to maximise uptime.

“We are thrilled to present the cutting-edge, innovative Symbio’s 400 kW heavy-duty fuel cell stack that enables a significant engine weight reduction without compromise on performance,” says Rob Del Core, general manager of Symbio North America. “This hydrogen-powered Class 8 fuel cell truck is a testimonial of Symbio’s fuel cell technology leadership and system integration know-how. We thank the CEC, GTI Energy, and project partners for their support and dedication in making this sustainable and ambitious project a reality. This fuel cell truck development and demonstration constitute a major strategic step forward for Symbio in the United States, as we are developing and solidifying our US sales and manufacturing footprint.”

Alexis Garcin, President and CEO of Michelin North America, adds: “Hydrogen plays a key role in Michelin’s all-sustainable approach and Symbio brings us with this announcement one step closer to becoming a world leader in hydrogen systems for mobility. Equipped with Michelin low rolling resistance tyres and with the Symbio Hydrogen fuel cells, this breakthrough will accelerate the transition to a greener long-haul transportation with extended range and fast charging time.”

Decades of combined experience

Expected to commence operations by the end of 2024, the truck will run for 12 months on a 400-mile (650 km) route that includes distinct urban, uphill, downhill and high-speed operating sections. The vehicle will store 66.8kg of 700-bar hydrogen onboard and have access to two intra-route refuelling stations. Michelin notes that the project supports the US state of California’s goal of achieving economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2045.

Symbio, a joint venture of Forvia, Michelin, and Stellantis, boasts over 30 years of combined experience in hydrogen fuel cell system development and vehicle integration. Symbio has successfully entered the hydrogen-powered market in Europe as a strategic technology partner of Stellantis.

The world’s fourth-largest vehicle manufacturer by sales, Stellantis offers a wide range of zero-emission hydrogen solutions for light commercial vehicles, deployed in Europe with a range of up to 500 km and a recharge time of less than 10 minutes. Stellantis is also considering developing hydrogen technology for its Ram brand pickups, aiming to electrify its vehicle portfolio without compromising on payload capacity. All these vehicles will be equipped with fuel cells produced by Symbio.

Symbio is a leading player in the hydrogen industry, already operates the largest integrated Fuel Cell gigafactory in Europe and is exploring opportunities for a domestic gigafactory in the US to support the development and production of the 150 kW StackPack for the US market, including the RAM-brand pickup prospect.