HySPERT - Hydrogen Special Purpose Electric vehicle platform for Refuse collection and fire Trucks

This 8-month feasibility project which is a collaboration led by ULEMCo Ltd, the specialist hydrogen commercial vehicle company, with Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service part of Oxfordshire CC to complete a feasibility study into developing a bespoke hydrogen fuel cell based zero emission niche vehicle chassis platform that will be adaptable for special purpose applications like fire pumping appliances. Initially the partners will develop a deep understanding of the specific duty cycles for these types of vehicles when operated in a variety of use scenarios particularly urban and rural, so that a thorough understanding and detailed model of the existing energy use can be created that includes the power and energy use required to pump water for a minimum of 4 hours and the optimal range requirement. The fuel cell electric powertrain configuration will then be researched so that it will meet this optimised energy need combined with the operational requirements for the vehicles to be available and ready for use at all times as an emergency service, 24/7 service readiness, where the duty cycle will involve 4 to 40 hours continuous running with sufficient green hydrogen refuelling facilities for the various fleet locations. The project plans to focus on identifying solutions that will satisfy the range of operational vehicle requirements of the service which covers a small city as well as across the county boundaries. The technical approach involves completing a thorough engineering research investigation into the feasibility of applying state-of the art (particularly from the UK supply chain) and commercially available electrification technology options including light-weight chassis, innovative e-drive solutions, options for onboard energy storage including the hydrogen and fuel cell technology that would give the required flexibility to the platform to deliver the specialist vehicle application requirements. The project is particularly innovative in that it will deliver a world-first by determining the scope of applying the globally leading OEM sourced Fuel cell technology (proven in passenger cars), within the design solution for vehicle platform which due to its proven high efficiency, lightweight and compact design is expected to offer the best route to delivering the optimised specification. The key outputs from the project will provide a full specification, detailed CAD engineered design for a prototype, a high-level bill of materials identifying key component costs and supplier options and a project plan for the next stage of R&D, which will involve the physical build of the prototype vehicle.