GM to Sell Navistar Hydrotec Fuel Cell Power Cubes for EVs

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General Motors said today it will sell its Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes to Navistar for use in its production model fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV)  based on the International RH Series. Terms were not disclosed. Navistar’s FCEV will get energy from two GM Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes. Each Hydrotec power cube contains 300-plus hydrogen fuel cells along with thermal and power management systems. The power cubes are “easy to package and can be used in a wide range of applications, including marine, earth-moving and mining equipment, locomotives and power generators.”

The GM move is the latest in what is shaping up to be a headlong rush by commercial truck makers to drop dirty diesel and gasoline fueled vehicles in favor of fuel cell powered truck and heavy equipment. Proposed regulations – globally – are providing the incentive to change product lines to more sustainable ones. It’s the price of survival. The Japanese – thus far – appear to be leading the way.

Toyota Motor Corporation and Hino Motors, Ltd. have agreed to jointly develop a heavy-duty 25-ton fuel cell truck, and to proceed with initiatives toward its practical use through verification tests. Cruising range will be set at approximately 600 km. Toyota and Hino think hydrogen is an important energy source for the future and have worked together on developing technologies for fuel cell vehicles for more than fifteen years since a joint demonstration trials of the fuel cell bus in 2003.

The powertrain is equipped with two Toyota fuel cell stacks that have been newly developed for Toyota’s next Mirai and includes vehicle driving control that applies heavy-duty hybrid vehicle technologies developed by Hino. Also, cruising range will be set at approximately 600 km to meet standards in both environmental performance and practicality as a commercial vehicle.

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• JR East, Hitachi, Toyota to Develop Fuel Cell Railway Vehicles
• Toyota and Hino to Develop Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Truck
• Hyundai Motor and Cummins to Work on Fuel Cell Technology