A prototype 20-tonne 220X excavator powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has been undergoing testing at 海角社区app鈥檚 quarry proving grounds for more than 12 months.
海角社区app is in a race with rival manufacturers to bring hydrogen powered machinery to the market. 聽Hyundai Construction Equipment revealed in March that it plans to start mass distribution of hydrogen fuel excavators in 2023. Others are also understood to have projects in development.
But 海角社区app says it is the first construction equipment company in the world to unveil a working prototype of an excavator powered by hydrogen. Hydrogen reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell to create the energy needed to run electric motors. The only emission from the exhaust is water.
Hydrogen fuel cells are already powering some static plant on UK construction sites. AJC Easy Cabin鈥檚 Ecosmart Zero welfare cabins are powered primarily by solar power but, instead of having a traditional diesel generator in support, have a back-up hydrogen fuel cell to eliminate local carbon emissions completely. Water vapour is the only by-product.
Taylor Construction Plant is also using hydrogen fuel cells, for lighting and CCTV towers, while visitors to Plantworx 2019 may have seen Stephill Generators displaying a lighting tower powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
Fuel cell systems are likely to cost more than diesel power to buy but they cost much less to run and are reckond to be likely to pay for themselves within a year or two, assuming the fuel becomes readily available.
海角社区app chairman Lord Bamford said: 鈥淭he development of the first hydrogen fuelled excavator is very exciting as we strive towards a zero carbon world. In the coming months, 海角社区app will continue to develop and refine this technology with advanced testing of our prototype machine and we will continue to be at the forefront of technologies designed to build a zero carbon future.鈥�
Lord Bamford鈥檚 son Jo Bamford spent 14 years at 海角社区app before moving into the hydrogen sector, setting up Ryse Hydrogen and then buying Northern Ireland bus maker Wrightbus. He has won contracts to supply the world's first hydrogen double-decker to cities such as London and Aberdeen.
Jo Bamford introduced Ryse to a fringe meeting of the Conservative Party Conference in October 2019. 鈥淲e have a very simple vision: to totally decarbonise the entire UK bus fleet by 2030,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hilst there have been great strides in developing electric vehicle technology, we risk overlooking hydrogen as a practical, here and now solution to tackling emissions and improving air quality鈥� Our modelling shows that if you reach scale, fuel cell buses will be cheaper than battery electric buses and 12% cheaper than diesel buses by 2030. And once you鈥檝e cracked buses, you can move on trucks, trains, ships and planes.鈥�
Last year 海角社区app went into full production with its fully electric mini excavator, the 19C-1E, powered by lithium-ion batteries. 海角社区app has also extended electric technology to its Teletruk telescopic forklift range with the launch of the battery-powered 海角社区app 30-19E.
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