Steve Gill, First Hydrogen Automotive’s CEO, spent 19 years with Ford, working and living in the UK, Germany and the US, where he lead strategic programmes delivering innovative technology into volume production for Ford and its partners, including Jaguar Land-Rover and the PSA Group.
He has also worked as an automotive consultant with leading businesses including AVL Powertrain, the UK Automotive Council and Britishvolt.
First Hydrogen Corp. is a Vancouver and London-based company focused on zero-emission vehicles and carbon dioxide extractor systems.
On this week’s Mobility Moments, Gill discusses the many benefits of hydrogen-powered mobility and its new FCEV demonstrator vehicles.
Describe First Hydrogen and its main aims
First Hydrogen is unique in that we are operating in both the automotive and energy businesses, through First Hydrogen Automotive and First Hydrogen Energy. In the Automotive group our aim is to offer Zero Emissions Mobility through innovative, hydrogen-powered light and medium Commercial Vehicles.
This is supported by our developments in hydrogen refuelling stations, such that we can offer fleet customer Hydrogen-as-a-Service together with the vehicle, removing infrastructure concerns as the market evolves.
Our Energy business is also looking into green hydrogen production in key markets, so we are active through the whole value chain. First Hydrogen is planning to focus on the UK, Europe and North American markets to drive the growth.
Describe the new FCEV demonstrator vehicles
For a demonstrator we wanted a vehicle that potential customers will be familiar with as an EV, so that they can see, feel and experience the benefits and operation of a hydrogen propulsion system in a familiar set up. The use of an existing platform not only provides that direct comparison, it also enables us to bring reliable demonstrators to customers on a much shorter timeframe than starting from scratch.
It will also give us early feedback into our bespoke LCV vehicle development program.
We undertook a market study looking at potential donor vehicles and selected the M.A.N. eTGE van, which is derived from the Volkwagen Crafter as our base.
For the development of the fuel cell system and powertrain integration we followed one of our core principles of working with world class partners and we have that in Ballard and AVL.
We are using the Ballard FCgen®-LCS fuel cell, combined with a 13 Kwh power battery. We’ve been able to package the fuel cell system, battery and hydrogen tanks without any impact on the customer features of the van such as interior space or load height.
The resulting vehicles will be delivering over 500km of range capability on WLTP when compared to the EV with the same maximum speed. Refuelling time is typically 5 minutes.
What are the next steps in developing the FCEVs?
Our next phase is well under way on our bespoke vehicle definition. This is giving us the opportunity to define a class leading vehicle architecture matched to the customer segments that benefit from fuel cell technology, with a number of propulsion system and vehicle derivatives to be available.
In parallel we are growing a very international team taking advantage of new ways of working together with the best people.
What are the advantages of hydrogen mobility over fully electric vehicles?
The attraction of hydrogen propulsion is its ability to offer uncompromised performance in applications where range, payload, towing capacity or high auxiliary offtake are important as well as users who operate multi-shift use patterns where speed of refuelling is important. This gives operational flexibility which is highly valued by many customer groups.
In light commercial vehicles uses that are very attractive for FCEV include express delivery, trade, major construction, taxis, refrigerated transport, ambulances and camper vans.
What other green hydrogen projects are First Hydrogen working on?
Our Hydrogen Refuelling Station study with FEV Consulting group will be complete in quarter two this year and the detail of that programme is looking exciting as we match it to the Automotive needs. We also have early opportunities for Green H2 production partnerships in key markets.
Beyond that there are other technologies such as off-grid power and stationary power generation that can and will benefit from fuel cell and hydrogen technology and can be synergistic to our business, so watch this space.
What role can hydrogen-powered mobility play in the race to net zero?
Most major economies have defined hydrogen strategies as key part of their roadmaps to achieve net zero. With the current events in Ukraine this has become even more relevant with the renewed focus on energy security as well as climate change. Hydrogen will support the drive to decarbonize cross industry sectors, including heavy industry, heating and off course transport.
Hydrogen is also an enabler to net zero as an energy storage and transport vector for renewable energy, it can be stored in gaseous, liquid and compound forms such as ammonia. We believe this cross-sector activity will accelerate the growth in green and low carbon hydrogen and further enable the implementation in transport.
What will transportation and urban mobility look like by 2030?
Legislation and local authority policy are driving a rapid transition for passenger car and light duty vehicles, in UK, EU and Canada in particular. By 2030 we would expect to see a high mix of hybrids, BEVs and a growing number of FCEV vehicles on the market.
Heavy duty will take longer to transition with the legislation coming at a later date and technology still under development to suit that market.
Keyword: The Many Benefits of Hydrogen-Powered Mobility – Mobility Moments With Steve Gill, First Hydrogen Automotive CEO