First Hydrogen, a leading developer of zero emission automotive and green energy solutions, is set to open up fleet trials for its hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered vehicle (FCEV) in response to increasing interest from parcel delivery companies. Following successful initial road trials with fleet operators in the UK, the company’s proof-of-concept demonstrator vehicles will be put through operational trials with several parcel delivery companies starting in late Q3 and Q4 of this year.
Traditionally, First Hydrogen has primarily targeted industries such as utilities that require zero emission vehicles capable of traveling longer distances and carrying heavier loads. However, the specific challenges faced by parcel delivery companies have prompted them to explore alternative technologies to meet their commercial and environmental targets, in addition to battery technology.
Parcel delivery companies make up the middle and final stages of the supply chain, transporting items from local hubs directly to consumers or end users. These companies are now also handling longer routes from distribution centers to lockers and shops with parcel collection services. The size of the parcel delivery vehicle market is projected to exceed US$210 billion by 2032, driven by the boom in ecommerce, with 9.1 million online retailers worldwide. Sales are predicted to reach US$8.1 trillion by 2026.
First Hydrogen’s engineers have designed the vehicles for longer journeys but equipped them with hybrid engines (hydrogen fuel cell and battery) that are suitable for shorter drives in urban and suburban areas. The vehicles are also equipped with regenerative braking technology to recharge the battery, especially during routes involving frequent stops and starts. This is highly relevant for delivery drivers who often make over 100 stops in a single shift.
In terms of vehicle downtime, First Hydrogen’s LCVs offer fast hydrogen refueling, taking approximately 5 minutes, compared to around 5 hours for charging a similar electric vehicle. This extends the daily duty cycles of the vehicles, making them available for longer shifts across multiple drivers and providing fleets with greater operational flexibility.
Steve Gill, CEO of First Hydrogen Automotive, explains that the carbon reduction targets, low and zero emission zones in cities, and the phasing out of diesel and petrol-powered vehicles are positioning hydrogen mobility as a viable solution for the challenges faced by last-mile delivery operators. He sees a significant opportunity to tap into the growing parcel delivery sector’s need for environmentally friendly and commercially viable fleets with First Hydrogen’s hydrogen-powered LCVs, which could potentially accelerate the company’s business growth and speed up the entry of their vehicles into the market.