The first of two hydrogen fuel cell stacks provided by Ballard has been built (see photos below) with the addition of all required components, including air system, thermal management and cooling system and hydrogen supply. Thisfuel cell system assembly has been shipped to AVL’s headquarters in Graz, Austria for testing and fuel-cell optimization. The second fuel cell system assembly will follow shortly.
Following optimization, the fuel cells systems will be shipped back to AVL in the UK for integration and commissioning in the vehicles. Road/track testing is expected to be on schedule for June 2022 with final delivery for road use in September 2022 and First Hydrogen will then be able to showcase its’ zero-emission commercial van to replace petrol/diesel powered fleets. In parallel with the development of the demonstrator vehicles, the Company is pursuing green hydrogen production projects in the UK and elsewhere. The Company’s development of its state-of-the-art mobility refuelling station continues with FEV Consulting GmbH of Aachen Germany.
Steve Gill, CEO Automotive of First Hydrogen said: “We are very pleased with the progress for the delivery of our two demonstrator vehicles, working with our partners AVL and Ballard. We are substantially on track to showcase our road-going vehicles with customers in September 2022, as originally planned. Our joint development of this hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will set us apart as a market leader for fuel cell vehicles in the light commercial space and in good stead for our next generation of bespoke hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which will incorporate all the technical development we have achieved so far.”
