Video: Fuel Cell Truck to Ply the Port of Los Angeles
S. Himmelstein | April 20, 2017A zero-emission, proof-of-concept truck will take part in a feasibility study examining the potential of fuel cell technology in heavy duty applications at the Port of Los Angeles, CA. Toyota Motor North America, Inc.’s Project Portal is testing a hydrogen fuel cell system designed for heavy-duty trucks applied in a Class 8 truck. The initiative will advance the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan, which has dramatically reduced harmful emissions from operations at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles since 2005.
The fully-functioning heavy duty truck has the power and torque capacity to conduct port drayage operations while emitting nothing but water vapor. Heavy duty vehicles make up a significant percentage of the annual emissions output at the Port of Los Angeles, and the current feasibility study may provide another path to further reduce emissions.
The truck generates more than 670 horsepower and 1,325 pound feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12 kilowatt hour battery, a relatively small battery to support class 8 load operations. The concept’s gross combined weight capacity is 80,000 pounds, and its estimated driving range is more than 200 miles per fill, under normal drayage operation.
Here’s video proof that a fuel cell truck delivers excellent acceleration performance compared to a conventional diesel.