FORD TRUCKS TO GET HYDROGEN FUEL CELL SYSTEM FROM BALLARD

In spite of its massive investment in all-electric vehicles, Ford has been quick to admit that current EV battery technology simply isn’t yet viable for use in big, heavy trucks. However, hydrogen fuel cell power appears to be a suitable alternative, and as such, The Blue Oval has embarked on a number of pilot programs in the U.S. and the UK involving hydrogen-powered medium-duty Ford Super Duty and E-Transit models. Though hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles remain a bit of a niche product for now, they have shown enough potential that future Ford trucks will be powered by a special powertrain of that type developed by Ballard Power Systems.

Ford Trucks – a global brand under the umbrella of the joint venture Ford Otosan – has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with BPS that will result in the latter company supplying the former with a fuel cell system as part of the development of a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle prototype, as well as an initial purchase order for 2 FCmove-XD 120 kW fuel cell engines this year. Ford Trucks will use this powertrain in its F-Max 44-ton long-haul tractor truck to create a possible solution for the European Union’s Horizon Europe ZEFES (Zero Emission Freight EcoSystem) goals.

The mission of ZEFES is to accelerate the integration of zero-emissions vehicles in long distance heavy transport, which to this point has been a difficult task. As a result, the hydrogen-powered Ford will represent one of nine vehicle concepts slated to cover more than a million kilometers of European roads in the coming years to test this type of technology. If all goes well, Ford Trucks plans to make BPS its preferred supplier for a production fuel cell-powered F-Max.