Pure Hydrogen launching Australia’s first hydrogen-powered prime mover for trial with PepsiCo Australia

Pure Hydrogen Corporation (ASX: PH2) has confirmed it will launch Australia’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Prime Mover, the ‘Taurus’, at the Brisbane Truck Show on 18th May 2023, which will be followed by commercial trials with PepsiCo Australia in Brisbane.

The ‘Taurus’ vehicle is the outcome of a co-development project led by Pure Hydrogen with input from global food and beverage conglomerate PepsiCo under a deal signed in September 2022.

Pure Hydrogen has exclusive rights to the truck design in Australia and said there is potential for multi-vehicle orders following completion of the trial period.

The 220-kilowatt 6bx4 prime mover is Australian designed and has state-of-the-art features including a low-voltage power storage system, refuelling point and luxurious cabin interiors.

Future designs are expected to include prime movers that can handle B-double loads of up to 70 tonnes.

The Brisbane Truck Show marks the next step in Pure Hydrogen’s go-to market commercialisation strategy, allowing the company to stage a live demonstration of the use-case for hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles such as prime movers, garbage trucks and cement mixers to relevant industry participants and potential customers. 

A broad vehicle development strategy

Pure Hydrogen managing director Scott Brown said the truck show is the latest step in a broader development strategy for hydrogen-powered vehicles in Australia.

“With the first roll-out of the Taurus now complete, we look forward to presenting in Brisbane and pursuing commercial discussions with potential customers.”

He added that interest from other parties has been “most encouraging”.

“A key part of our strategy is to provide hydrogen solutions to potential customers by bringing the devices and the energy needed to power them.”

Hydrogen-powered garbage trucks and other vehicle

Pure Hydrogen’s diversified approach places it in a strong position to continue to deliver fuel cell devices to market, as it focuses on the advancement of several other vehicles via investments and partnerships with companies domestically and internationally.

As part of this strategy, Pure Hydrogen is currently developing Australia’s first hydrogen-powered garbage truck, which is on track to be delivered by the end of this quarter.

It will be trialled in Queensland by domestic waste collection provider JJ Waste and Recycling.

Pure Hydrogen also owns a 24% stake in H2X Global, which recently received a $2 million payment in connection with a successful tender to supply hydrogen-powered vehicles to Renova, a major municipal waste company based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

H2X has confirmed its plan for all vehicles under the Renova deal to be fully operational by 2025 with the first truck scheduled for delivery in December 2023.

Additionally, H2X is expected to begin producing fuel cell products in India in 2023 via a joint venture agreement with manufacturing and development company Advik Hi-Tech.