oping to reduce idling time and engine wear, Freightliner LLC has begun trials of a fuel cell that uses methanol to produce electricity that operates cab appliances from computers to the air conditioner.
(Michael James - TT) A Freightliner demonstration vehicle with fuel cell technology.
The fuel-cell auxiliary power unit is produced in collaboration with Ballard Power Systems Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia. Ballard is also testing heavy-duty fuel cells, but the project’s manager, Scott Smith, Freightliner executive engineer, said the truck manufacturer has no plans to develop fuel cells to power heavy-duty trucks.
“Because of the efficiency of the diesel engine and the power requirements,” Smith said, “we’re not really looking at a fuel cell to be the main power source for a vehicle. It has potential for a hybrid vehicle, but that’s down the road somewhere in the future.”
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