Tevva’s hydrogen-electric truck will have a range of up to 310 miles (500 kilometres), and its hydrogen tanks can be refilled in 10 minutes.

It will be the first vehicle of its kind to be manufactured, designed and mass-produced in the UK.

Thursday 30 June 2022, Road Transport Expo, Warwickshire: Electric and hydrogen truck pioneer Tevva is to make history today by launching the first hydrogen fuel cell-supported heavy goods vehicle (HGV) to be manufactured, designed and mass-produced in the UK.

The Tilbury-based company, which has so far raised $140m in funding, will unveil its hydrogen-electric vehicle alongside its latest full battery-electric HGV at Road Transport Expo in Warwickshire.

Hydrogen has been used safely in buses and other vehicles in more than twenty countries for many years and has a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries or diesel. Because of these properties, it is notably attractive for use in larger commercial vehicles.

By adding a hydrogen fuel cell system to its battery-electric HGV design, Tevva delivers zero-emission solutions that will work for most fleet operators across various industries and sectors. The fuel cell system tops up the battery, extending the vehicle’s range and allowing the truck to carry heavier loads over longer distances.

One advantage of using the fuel cell as a range extender rather than the primary power source is that it allows Tevva to provide smaller, cheaper and lighter fuel cells and operate these at the highest possible efficiency.

Tevva’s 7.5-tonne hydrogen-electric truck comfortably meets (and exceeds) demanding duty cycles for nearly all urban and extra-urban use cases. Tevva’s innovation means that its customers can drive for longer with a range of up to 310 miles (or 500 kilometres) and will have reassurance thanks to the technology’s reliability and safety.

Crucially, hydrogen refuelling typically takes a similar time to diesel trucks (5-20 minutes), and the dual use of both battery electric and hydrogen energy sources futureproofs Tevva and its customers as the transition away from fossil fuels, and the decarbonisation of the transport industry continues.

In 2019, for example, HGVs contributed 18% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, according to government figures.

Tevva’s proprietary software systems manage battery systems and hydrogen fuel cells at the highest efficiencies to optimise cost-effectiveness, carbon effectiveness, resilience and refuelling convenience.

Alongside its 24/7 customer support, Tevva will offer customers hydrogen services, helping them access sustainable and affordable hydrogen supplies safely and conveniently, alongside their purchase or lease of Tevva Hydrogen Trucks.

Tevva is onboarding diverse hydrogen suppliers that can provide innovative hydrogen services to cater for our growing customer base.

Tevva CEO and founder Asher Bennett said: “We are excited to launch our hydrogen-electric HGV, creating a landmark moment for Tevva and UK manufacturing. We firmly believe that the post-fossil fuel future, which is quickly approaching, will see a new range of technologies and fuels take centre stage in the transport industry.

“By embracing hydrogen, we are futureproofing ourselves, our clients and the industries and communities they operate in. We also pride ourselves on our vehicles being safe and reliable and going the distance. Combined with our commitment to customer service, we believe that Tevva’s hydrogen-electric truck will be a popular choice for fleet operators across the UK, Europe and, eventually, North America.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work the team at Tevva has put into this vehicle”, Asher added. “We have reached this milestone by leveraging our years of experience designing, innovating and manufacturing dual-energy vehicles.”

Zoe Hall, Head of Competitions and Projects, Advanced Propulsion Centre, said:

“I am very proud that the technology we have supported through our collaborative research and development programme is now being put to real-world use. The launch of this truck, with its hydrogen fuel cell range extender, is an exciting outcome of the APC-funded project to eliminate CO2 at the tailpipe and lower the total cost of ownership compared to existing diesel vehicles. This smart zero-emission vehicle, with rare earth metal-free electric motors, has the potential to make heavy goods transport sustainable.”

Ben Nyland, Loop Energy President & CEO, said: “We are extremely happy to provide our fuel cell system to power the revolutionary zero-emissions truck Tevva is bringing to market. From the tender process to integrating the first vehicles, we have been consistently impressed with the vision and execution of the entire Tevva team.

“Trucks like Tevva’s hydrogen-electric platform will be critical to achieving the emissions reduction targets necessary to address climate change. Their commitment to scale quickly reflects the sense of urgency with which the transportation industry needs to approach the deployment of zero-emission commercial vehicles.

“We believe the combination of Tevva’s proven range-extended platform with Loop Energy’s leading fuel cell system can be a key contributor to the decarbonisation of transportation in Europe and North America. We look forward to a very fruitful relationship over the coming years.”