Hydrogen-powered triple road trains will soon be a familiar sight in and around the roads of the Townsville port.
Hyzon Motors said this week it had a confirmed order for five of the futuristic-looking 154-tonne trucks from Ark Energy, the Australian subsidiary of the world’s largest zinc, lead and silver producer, Korea Zinc.
Under the order, Hyzon is obligated to deliver the zero-emission vehicles to Ark Energy by the end of 2022.
In a media statement released this week, Hyzon said Ark Energy will lease the trucks to its sister company, Townsville Logistics, which will deploy them in triple road train configurations as part of their short-haul fleet operating on a 30km loop from the Port of Townsville to the Sun Metals zinc refinery owned by the group.
The fuel cell trucks, replacing their diesel equivalents, are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1400 tonnes per year.
Hyzon expects to assemble the vehicles in Australia, aligning with the company’s plans to boost local Australian production of fuel cell vehicles.
Hyzon expects that the vehicles will be fueled at Ark Energy’s SunHQ hydrogen hub in Townsville, with green hydrogen produced from an electrolyzer powered by a co-located solar farm.
The project is expected to be the first in the world to use Hyzon’s ultra-heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles.
“Hyzon is the only hydrogen commercial mobility company that can meet our needs,” said Ark Energy CEO Daniel Kim.
“Our fuel cell trucks need to be 154-tonnes rated, built to Australian Design Rules and delivered by the end of next year. That was the ultimate basis for placing this order.”
Hyzon said it is committed to developing its next-generation 370kW fuel cell systems (equivalent to 500 horsepower).
“This definitive order from Ark Energy is a prime example that decarbonisation is happening now,” said Craig Knight, the Australian CEO of US-based Hyzon.
“Our work with Ark Energy will help lay the foundation for an emissions-free future in Australia.”