Under a great hope for future transportation with all ease, a Hydrogen-Fueled truck breaks world record to shine light by achieving farthest distance without any refueling and with Zero-emissions too. It covered extraordinary journey of 2,906.47 km (1,806 miles) in Sacramento, California, USA, a few days back, thus earning Guinness Book Record. This is a new record title, the minimum distance was 1,931 kms, or 1,200 miles.
With this record, the promising potential of hydrogen technology for zero-emissions transportation and portable power solutions are highlighted.
The record-breaking vehicle is Accelera’s zero-emissions H2Rescue truck, a Kenworth T370 prototype designed for emergency response missions. This Class 7 heavy-duty truck, weighing approximately 33,000 pounds, represents a significant collaboration between Accelera; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T); the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); and, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The attempt started on Friday 18 October 2024 when the truck was driven to Oakland, California, performing multiple GPS-tracked loops around the city.
The truck completed its record-setting journey in central California and was closely monitored and validated by an Adjudicator from Guinness World Records who confirmed the truck’s hydrogen tank was sealed before the journey began.
Industry collaboration and real-world testing is essential to refine innovations, allowing groundbreaking solutions to reach the market. Technical lead on the H2Rescue program, Prateek Vaish shared: “Together with our Government partners, we’ve achieved a key milestone in demonstrating long-haul, zero-emissions transportation”.
Powered by a fuel cell engine and a 250 KW traction motor, the truck carried 175 kilograms of onboard hydrogen and consumed 168 kg of it during the trip. The vehicle’s average speed was between 50 and 55 mph, operating in temperatures varying from 60 to 80 ºF.
Over the 1,800-mile trip, the hydrogen-filled truck emitted zero pounds of carbon dioxide, a stark contrast to the 664 pounds a standard internal combustion engine vehicle would have produced over the same distance.
On 25 October, the last day of the journey, the truck was set out for another short journey, surpassing the company’s goal of getting above 1,800 miles.
Upon completion of the journey, Guinness World Records Adjudicator Michael Empric announced the successful achievement to the Cummins team and their media representatives.
Hydrogen as a power source offers significant advantages for long-range applications with heavy-duty work cycles, such as trucks, buses, and rail systems. It generates minimal noise and produces zero emissions, with water and steam as the only byproducts.
Annually, a fuel cell-powered truck of this size can displace approximately 1,825 gallons of fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2.5 metric tons.
By demonstrating the viability and benefits of hydrogen technology; Accelera by Cummins has set a new standard for sustainable mobility, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient transportation solutions.
‘Accelera’ is an energy technology leader committed to securing a sustainable future for the industries that keep the world running. A diverse portfolio of zero-emissions solutions includes battery systems, fuel cells, e-powertrain systems and electrolyzes.
The voyage represents a great proof of concept for fuel-cell vehicles as an alternative to diesel-powered vehicles. “This world record is a triumph for interagency collaboration and proof that hydrogen is a viable alternative fuel for vehicles,” said Nicholas Josefik, Industrial Engineer at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. “By using hydrogen, we can improve our Nation’s energy security and reliability,” Josefik added.
An impressive statistic from the feat was that a comparable diesel vehicle would have contributed 664 pounds of pollution over the same journey, as per Accelera version. Annually, the company says using a single fuel-cell truck instead of a diesel one could save over 1,800 gallons of fuel and cut carbon pollution by an estimated 2.5 million tons.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles with fuel-cell technology, like the H2Rescue, offer tantalizing possibilities. The vehicles release water and steam instead of the planet-heating pollution of diesel and gas-powered vehicles.
When compared to battery-powered EVs, hydrogen vehicles could charge quicker and possess astonishing range.
That being said, there are roadblocks. One is a current lack of charging infrastructure compared to EVs. Another potential pitfall that researchers are looking to solve is the degradation of fuel-cell tech.
Another concern is the currently fossil-fuel-dependent hydrogen production process that includes dirty energy like methane. Fortunately, experts around the world are working on producing “green hydrogen” that could create a hydrogen economy.
As it stands, Accelera touted the results as proof that fuel-cell engines of its kind can provide a quieter, pollution-free foundation for a range of applications such as heavy-duty trucks, buses, and rail systems.
Specific to the H2Rescue, they say it can offer major benefits to disaster-relief sites by powering Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers or even homes. It’s not yet clear where Accelera and the team that collaborated on the project will go next, but it’s clear the results provide a strong platform.
“We look forward to transitioning lessons learned throughout this project to future fuel-cell systems and joint efforts,” said Eric Wasiloff, Project Manager with the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center.
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