With an eye toward the future, a zero-emission Kenworth T680 day cab equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell is on display at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show.
The vehicle is part of the Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT) demonstration project managed through Southern California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
The Kenworth T680 day cab’s fuel cell combines compressed hydrogen gas and air to produce electricity with only water vapor emitted at the tailpipe. This electricity can power the dual-rotor electric motor to move the truck, or it can recharge the lithium-ion batteries for use later. The hybrid drive system manages the power from the fuel cell to and from the batteries, as well as the traction motors and other components, such as the electrified power steering and brake air compressor.
“Kenworth’s hydrogen fuel-cell T680 is a reality,” said Stephan Olsen, Kenworth director of product planning. “The T680 has been running trials in the Seattle area and performing very well. The next step is real-world testing with Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in Southern California.”
According to Olsen, the hydrogen fuel-cell based Kenworth T680 will have an initial range of 150 miles, which makes it ideal for short haul and port operations. With a dual-rotor traction motor output of 565 horsepower, the truck is capable of carrying the legal gross combination weight of a Class 8 vehicle. “Our testing shows that this truck performs equally as well, if not better than, current diesel trucks on the market,” said Olsen. “There is a lot of promise, and we see the day where Kenworth’s zero and near-zero emission trucks could be a common sight in regional operations. “Kenworth is heavily focused on the evaluation and development of both zero and near-zero emission solutions for the trucking industry,” Olsen said.
The market is being driven by progressive states, such as California, where clean air is the mandate. To develop the hydrogen-based T680, Kenworth is supported by $2.8 million in funding under a larger grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), with Southern California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) being the prime applicant. Project oversight is provided by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE). Kenworth is also working on a second project under the larger program for DOE and SCAQMD to develop a near-zero emission- capable T680 day cab using a near-zero natural gas engine and generator to extend the battery range.
