The energy company Security Service Edge (SSE) has completed a UK-based trial of a hydrogen fuelled van from First Hydrogen.
The trial, which saw the van used for day-to-day tasks in Aberdeen, Scotland, comes as the SSE is looking to test out alternative options to electric vehicles as it looks to achieve net carbon zero by 2030.
The first performance tests of the hydrogen vans took place last year near Birmingham, UK, with the vans able to achieve a 400km – 600 km range from a single fuelling compared to the 115 km range of the electric van.
This has been the vehicle’s second UK based trial, after it was trialled with UK based fleet management firm Rivus in March.
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While SSE has already transitioned 40% of its fleet to electric vehicles, head of fleet services Simon Gray told Fleet News that they didn’t “have anything suitable for the Transit van size that can meet zero emissions and is suitable to undertake some of the duty cycles we are running in operational areas such as Aberdeen”.
First Hydrogen Automotive CEO Steve Gill said: “We see the future of zero emissions transport as a mix of technologies to suit different vehicle types and usage, with fleets comprising hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles.
He added that they were “thrilled” to be operating in Aberdeen, as it has already looked to champion hydrogen use.
He continued: “Data collected during the trial will help us to optimize the vehicle, demonstrate its capabilities for future customers and inform further development.”
SSE driver Will Hannaford said: “First Hydrogen’s van is very pleasing to drive and is much smoother than my diesel vehicles. The zero-emission van will obviously improve the environmental impact of our day-to-day operations, but it has the additional benefit of performing well in city driving and recharging its battery during use, which gives it an impressive range”.
