The Allison gearbox is the UK’s first hydrogen-powered waste collection vehicle

Allison, the UK’s first hydrogen – powered garbage collection truck, has received an automatic transmission. The vehicle uses the power of a hydrogen fuel cell to produce electricity for the 335 horsepower Hyzon electric motor. According to Allison, the use of this type of vehicle ensures the continuous fit of the brand’s automatic transmissions when switching from diesel internal combustion engines to other technologies.

The pioneering new hydrogen-powered RCV is based on the HH-Mercedes-Benz Econic Hydrogen chassis with a wheelbase of 4,200 mm and a battery capacity of 15 kg at 350 bar and 140 kWh capacity at 700 V. The RCV, powered by Aberdeen City Council’s own green hydrogen infrastructure, has a range of 155 miles (250 km), allowing it to travel longer distances than electric vehicles.

This vehicle is the latest step in the “H2 Aberdeen” initiative, which aims to bring the hydrogen economy to cities. Aberdeen City Council first introduced ten single-layer hydrogen buses in 2012, followed by the world’s first 15 double-decker buses in 2020. Transmission method.

The RCV is part of the EU’s Interreg HECTOR project, in which seven European regions aim to demonstrate that fuel cell waste collection trucks can help reduce emissions from urban transport. Other project vehicles feature Allison transmissions, such as the RCV of AGR, a waste management company based in Herton, Germany, fitted with a DAF chassis.

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources by hydrolysis, is completely carbon-free. Hyzon currently produces the world’s highest energy density hydrogen fuel cell modules, offering good payload capacity and good range for medium and heavy traction. Fuel cell power can be adjusted according to the maximum gross weight and operating requirements of the vehicle.

Aberdeen City Council now operates 500 vehicles with Allison transmissions and has been impressed with their handling and durability for many years, “said Alison UK and Republican Area Sales and Accounts Manager (ROI) Transmission Nathan Wilson. And applies equally to alternative power vehicles. For these reasons, the Board specifically requested that its new hydrogen-powered RCV also have an Allison transmission.

Aberdeen City Council’s new hydrogen-powered truck is paired with Econic’s low-platform vehicle, a body manufactured by the Kiesinknorba Group, a waste collection solutions specialist in the Netherlands. Equipped with an integrated split-container lift, the vehicle will enter service in the household waste collection cycle in March, stopping 7.5 hours a day, five consecutive days a week. A manual or automated manual transmission (AMT) will struggle with this requirement due to clutch wear, but Allison replaces the fully automatic engine clutch with a patented torque converter. This reduces maintenance requirements, as well as improves driving ability and makes it easier to control vehicles during stops and low speed maneuvers.

Alison Transmission also recently introduced the new EigenPower electric axle system for trucks. The eGen Power 100D is one of the most powerful and fully integrated e-axle systems in the world for medium and heavy trucks. It has two electric motors capable of generating 227 kW (304.4 hp) of continuous power or a total of 454 kW (608.8 hp) of voltage, with a peak power of 652 kW (874.3 hp).

Raphael Brusk – Trucker Blog

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