Noerpel Group tests hydrogen trucks

"Our location is ideal for the test because a hydrogen filling station was recently opened in neighboring Giengen," explains Alexa Toberer, Branch Manager at the Heidenheim site. "This means we have the necessary infrastructure right on our doorstep." Two Noerpel drivers are on the road with the H2 truck in local and regional transport around Heidenheim. This was rented from hylane on a pay-per-use model. On average, the vehicle covers 140 kilometers per day in distribution and collection traffic with around 19 stops.

"In terms of range and performance, the vehicle has absolutely proven itself in our experience," says Alexa Toberer. "However, the purchase costs for a hydrogen truck are very high and the fuel costs per kilometer for green hydrogen are also significantly higher than for diesel, which means that it is not yet economically viable."

High unladen weight with good performance

The refueling process takes around 30 minutes. The maximum range of the 18-tonne vehicle is around 400 kilometers on a full tank. With an average payload of 6.3 tons in distribution transport, the practical test at Noerpel resulted in an approximate range of around 320 kilometers - however, a daily gradient of 5.4 percent had to be overcome over a distance of 1.4 kilometers. The unladen weight of the truck is 12.77 tons.

The test drivers were satisfied with the driving characteristics of the hydrogen truck: "Thanks to the vehicle's low center of gravity, driving comfort is very good," says Alexa Toberer. "And customers are very interested in the delivery and are delighted that the H2 truck produces no or very little engine noise." For safety reasons, it is important for practical operation that an H2 truck may not be loaded with hazardous goods that require labeling. This makes the organization of transport processes much more complex.

Test conclusion: technology mix necessary

Even though the test phase has not yet been completed, the trial operation has provided important insights for the Noerpel Group: "From a process perspective, we are quite satisfied with the hydrogen drive - in terms of costs and infrastructure, there is still a lot to do for everyday operation," summarizes Viktoria Wessel, Head of Sustainability. "Before this drive technology can be used across the board, especially in long-distance transport, the appropriate vehicles must be available on the market, public hydrogen infrastructure must be created and costs must be reduced."