Aberdeen hydrogen-fuel cell delivery van trial begins

Energy firm SSE has begun trials of First Hydrogen’s fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), testing the green hydrogen-powered van in real-life settings in the UK.

The project is set to enable SSE to evaluate the benefits of hydrogen mobility alongside its growing fleet of EV engineering and maintenance vehicles as an alternative to fossil fuels.

The van is being operated at an SSE site in Aberdeen, Scotland located next to a hydrogen fuel station.

First Hydrogen claims its FCEV can travel more than 300 miles (482km) on a single tank of fuel, further than equivalent battery electric vehicles (BEV) on a single charge, and can carry heavier loads without compromising on range.

With fast refuelling – approximately five minutes compared to five hours for BEV charging – it also means more vehicle uptime.

The vehicle will be closely monitored throughout the trial via onboard instruments to help First Hydrogen engineers understand fuel consumption, mileage, and vehicle performance in different conditions.

It will also enable them to keep track of the vehicle’s use, location, and status in real-time to keep the drivers and vehicle safe.

SSE has already pledged to switch 2,500 of its vehicles to electric and install charging points for its 11,000 employees to use.