Australia’s first hydrogen-fuelled waste collection truck nears completion

Clean energy specialist Pure Hydrogen Corporation (ASX: PH2) is on the fast-track to delivering a major breakthrough in the local development of hydrogen-fuelled commercial vehicles.

The company and leading Australian waste management business, JJ’s Waste & Recycling, are now within months of final trialling of a hydrogen-powered waste removal truck after completing a number of construction and approval milestones.

The vehicle has recently gone through an extensive testing and design phase carried out under the guidance of Australian Design Rules (ADR), the body responsible for the national standards for road safety that are administered by the Australian government under the Road Vehicle Standards Act (2018).

Final approvals imminent

Pure Hydrogen managing director, Scott Brown, said final official approval from the government is imminent after the maiden hydrogen-fuelled waste removal truck successfully passed the required criteria for all relevant safety and design standards including braking, cornering and acceleration.

Meanwhile, component parts for the body of the truck are now being installed and fitted by the Australian division of multinational Swiss engineering group Bucher Industries.

Mr Brown said the manufacture of Australia’s first hydrogen fuel cell refuse collection vehicle is the result of a successful co-development partnership between Pure Hydrogen and JJ’s Waste and Recycling, one of the largest waste management companies in Australia with a fleet of more than 2,000 trucks.

Significant market opportunity

“We believe there is a huge market for clean hydrogen fuel cell garbage trucks, not only in Australia but throughout the world,” he said.

“We are very pleased to build a hydrogen fuel cell refuse collection vehicle for JJ’s Waste & Recycling – one of the first of its kind in Australia. The truck has been manufactured in accordance with stringent Australian Design Rules and has successfully met all of the relevant performance and safety criteria over the course of an extensive testing process.

“The assembling of final components by Bucher Industries demonstrates the capacity of Pure to coordinate multiple manufacturing partners and the design and construction of these state-of-the-art hydrogen vehicles.”

Final trials looming

An initial trial of around 12 months in length of the completed vehicle is likely to kick-off before the end of the year to determine the effectiveness of the truck along with a practical framework for refuelling, with Pure Hydrogen providing the fuel.

Under an earlier agreement, JJ’s Waste & Recycling has the option to acquire additional hydrogen fuel cell vehicles if the trial is successful.

Upon successful completion of the in-depth trial, Pure Hydrogen will undertake a major roadshow to demonstrate the vehicle’s potential for investors and industry participants in the waste management and recycling sectors.

Successful Pepsi trial

Pure Hydrogen has already successfully demonstrated the capability of its technology with the launch of its specialist Taurus truck earlier this year.

Australia’s first hydrogen-powered prime mover vehicle, the Taurus was manufactured for global food and beverage brand PepsiCo.

Pure Hydrogen has also executed an initial agreement for the supply of a hydrogen fuel cell waste collection truck with national waste management company Solo Resource Recovery.