However, the longer the journey and the heavier the vehicle, the more the battery-powered electric drive hits its limits. This is where the strengths of the fuel cell come into play. Bosch has now equipped two vans with this technology and started road trials.
"The fuel cell allows for a long range and a short refueling time, making long journeys more economical," says Dr. Markus Heyn, member of the board of Bosch and chairman of the Mobility Solutions division. "With two fuel cell deliveries, we are expanding our knowledge of this system and showing that a fuel cell can be a suitable drive solution for light commercial vehicles as well.““
Mostly Bosch components are used
Bosch designed the fuel cell system, integrated it into the vehicle along with the hydrogen storage system, and developed the associated control system. After the necessary technical tests, the vehicles were approved for operation on land roads
The project already brings important knowledge: Even loaded vehicles can travel up to 540 kilometers, after six minutes they are fully refueled. For fleet operators whose deliveries travel particularly long distances during the day and return to the depot in the evening, the fuel cell may be a suitable supplement to the battery electric drive in the future.
Fuel cells and hydrogen are already ready for the next step. The first Bosch components for fuel cells are already in series production.
