Switching your vehicle to hydrogen by retrofitting

August 9, 2024

switching vehicle by retrofitting hydrogen

Does switching to hydrogen mean completely renewing your fleet? No! Retrofitting is the answer. Vincent Lallemand, Business Development Director at GCK Mobility (Green Corp Konnection) and expert in the retrofit of heavy vehicles explains the solutions available to you.

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Léa: If you want to buy a hydrogen vehicle, you have two options: new or retrofit. What’s a retrofit?

Vincent Lallemand: A retrofit is when you convert the drive train of a combustion engine vehicle to electric. In other words, you install an electric engine (in place of a combustion one), which is then powered, either by electric batteries of by batteries and a fuel cell. So you have either, on the one hand, a 100% electric vehicle, or, on the other, a “hydrogen vehicle” (which is really an electric vehicle powered by hydrogen).

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Can people contact you to retrofit any kind of vehicle?

Yes. From light duty vehicles and cars to heavy vehicles, we even recently had a snowplough approved! If it’s a vehicle we’ve done before, the project can be done very quickly. If it’s a new product, we create a prototype (with no need for the manufacturer’s approval since 2020). Once the prototype has been produced, it must then receive European approval. We submit a request to the CNRV which carries out normative tests and issues approval to the manufacturer – that’s us in this case – for a type of vehicle, with a type approval number. We can then roll-out the retrofitting of this type of vehicle for all our clients.

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Are there other rules with which you must comply when retrofitting a vehicle in France?

There are several rules:

the vehicle must be more than five years old,
the engine torque and basic power must be between 65% and 100% of the initial combustion engine torque
the weight of the vehicle must not exceed the weight of the initial combustion engine vehicle by more than 20%.

In other countries, retrofit is in fact allowed on new vehicles.

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Choosing between an electric and a hydrogen vehicle is not so easy. What factors determine whether to power an engine with electric batteries or a hydrogen fuel cell?

The decision to retrofit a fleet is naturally guided by the objective of reducing CO2 emissions, which the electric engine allows. The choice of power supply is guided by the operational constraints of the carrier or mobility operator. The fuel cell gives vehicles greater autonomy and offers a much shorter charging time. For example, for a truck, 10 kg of hydrogen will allow it to travel 100 km and thus provide 150 kWh of electrical energy, which is equivalent to 1 tonne of electric batteries! In terms of charging time, again for a truck, refuelling with 40 kg of hydrogen will take around 30 minutes, whereas electric recharging would take over five hours.

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So hydrogen has a rosy future ahead (we certainly think so at Lhyfe), but in which sectors particularly in your opinion?

In the short term, we are seeing a real interest in converting fleets of coaches, utility vehicles, refuse collection vehicles, concrete mixers, tractors, etc. The establishment of LEZs (low emission zones) will have a major impact on the carriers that have to access them and they need to start decarbonising their fleets now!

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Advantages and Disadvantages of hydrogen cars

May 29, 2023

In the quest to combat climate change and reduce carbon footprints, hydrogen cars have emerged as a compelling solution. The allure of zero-emissions driving, coupled with exciting technological advancements, makes hydrogen cars a viable contender in the evolving automotive landscape. This comprehensive guide explores the key advantages and disadvantages of these innovative vehicles.

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Hydrogen Cars: The Future of Sustainable Driving?

Hydrogen cars are powered by fuel cells, which use hydrogen to generate electricity that powers the vehicle. The only by-product of this process is water, making these cars an eco-friendly alternative to conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles.

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Hydrogen Cars Advantages

Emission-Free Operation

Undoubtedly, the most significant advantage of hydrogen cars is their zero-emission status when running. Unlike traditional vehicles that emit harmful pollutants, hydrogen vehicles emit only water vapor, contributing to cleaner air. They need to use green hydrogen to ensure a fully positive footprint. Hydrogen cars are really efficient to reduce carbon footprint when they are used with a high intensity (such as taxi operation for example).

Rapid Refuelling

Another significant advantage of hydrogen cars is their refuelling time. Unlike electric cars that need hours to charge, hydrogen cars can be refueled in just a few minutes, similar to conventional cars.

Excellent Range

When it comes to travel range, hydrogen cars are hard to beat. They can typically cover 300-400 miles on a single tank, making them an excellent option for long-distance travel.

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Hydrogen Cars Disadvantages

Infrastructure Limitations

Despite their potential, hydrogen cars face significant infrastructure challenges. The number of hydrogen refuelling stations is currently limited, particularly compared to gasoline stations or electric charging points.

Production and Storage Challenges

Hydrogen production and storage present challenges. Although hydrogen is abundant, producing it in a usable form requires energy, potentially negating some of its environmental benefits. Similarly, storing hydrogen requires special considerations due to its low density and high flammability.

High Costs

The cost of hydrogen cars and hydrogen fuel is currently high, partly due to limited demand and partly due to the complex technology involved. However, costs are expected to decrease as technology improves and adoption increases.

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Comparing Hydrogen Cars to Other Green Vehicles

Comparing hydrogen cars to other green vehicles like electric cars is essential to understand where they stand in the broader context of sustainable transportation. While both options offer emission-free driving, each has its pros and cons.

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The Role of Renewable Hydrogen in Advancing Hydrogen Cars

Renewable hydrogen can significantly enhance the eco-credentials of hydrogen cars. By producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources, the entire life cycle of hydrogen fuel can be made sustainable.

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The Future of Hydrogen Cars

Despite current challenges, the future of hydrogen cars looks promising. With the ongoing commitment to developing renewable hydrogen and enhancing fuel cell technology, hydrogen cars may soon become a common sight on our roads.

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