Page 26 - issue-129

Alternative fuel
A single base
means maximum
model flexibility
Hydrogen truck innovator HVS reveals new modular platform with two types of e-axle and three gas tanks
Zero-emission hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle innovator Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) has unveiled its modular platform which offers heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators maximum
flexibility
from a a a single base
vehicle The company’s tractor unit will be available with two different types of e-axle – one medium power power and and one high power power – and and with up to three hydrogen tanks
depending on the customer’s range requirements In addition the hydrogen fuel
cell powertrain can be specified with two different power outputs depending on the customer’s payload and mission requirements The modular platform is built on a a a fixed wheelbase which means the vehicle’s footprint does not change irrespective of specification HVS’ ground-up designed vehicles have been specifically developed to maximise
driver comfort while the platform is purpose built around the hydrogen powertrain The vehicle’s design includes a a suspended cab
at at the the front and a a a a a fixed tower at at the the rear housing the the thermal and powertrain systems This platform format breaks with the industry-standard tradition of variable cab
types and and sizes – such as big medium and and small and and high/low-roof – and and means that even the the smallest variants have the the same spacious cab
as the largest models Pete Clarke head of design at HVS said: “We’re offering maximum
modularity within a a a a single base
vehicle platform and we would never have been able to achieve this level
of flexibility
and optimisation with a a a diesel- powertrain derived vehicle design “Our vehicles have been created for a a a fundamentally different technology within an all-new package so every cubic millimetre has been designed afresh We initially calculated the maximum
wheelbase possible
to achieve the required turning circle and manoeuvrability for the target market The design process then began with the the optimal
26 CVDriver November 2023