EU project REVIVE: fuel cell systems for garbage trucks

As part of the EU-funded project REVIVE (Refuse Vehicle Innovation and Validation in Europe), a fleet of 15 electric vehicles for refuse collection is to be built and put into operation by 2021. The trucks will have a fuel cell system to increase the range.

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The 15 partners involved in the REVIVE project aim to significantly advance the development status of fuel cell refuse collection vehicles. The project is scheduled to run for four years and started in early 2018. It has a total budget of 8.7 million euros, with an EU contribution of five million euros. Towards the end of the project, the refuse collection vehicles are to be tested in eight different regions or cities – Breda, Helmond, Amsterdam, Groningen, Roosendaal, Antwerp, Bolzano and Merano.

The fuel cell specialist Proton Motor Fuel Cell, based in Puchheim, Bavaria, has now received an order as part of the project. As the company announces, the Dutch-Belgian company E-Trucks Europe, which is active in the project consortium, is ordering five fuel cell systems for installation in refuse collection vehicles. Proton says it is likely to be entrusted with the supply of a total of 14 fuel cell systems to equip the vehicles in the medium-term.

Proton has already delivered a fuel cell solution to E-Trucks Europe this month to extend the range. This is currently being integrated into one of the manufacturer’s vehicles, according to the Puchheim headquarters. Proton specialises in fuel cell applications for commercial vehicles such as forklifts or city buses as well as stationary solutions. The company only acquired a new fuel cell stack machine in mid-2019, which will increase production capacity to up to 5,000 fuel cell units per year.

Update 12 July 2020: Two more project partners have been confirmed as more details on the trials come to light. Sweden’s PowerCell and Renova confirm they have become partners of REVIVE. Their part will see them develop and operate a refuse truck with fuel cells for the City of Gothenburg.

REVIVE represents the second fuel cell-powered refuse truck in the Renova vehicle fleet. “We are strong believers in electric refuse trucks using fuel cells and hydrogen which have obvious benefits when it comes to driving range and payload capacity, two decisive factors for extensive electrification to happen”, said Hans Zackrisson, Head of Development at Renova.

presseportal.org, greencarcongress.com, powercell.se (both update on Sweden)