A new Kind of Trucking With Hydrogen-Electric HGVs - CEO & Head of Design of UK OEM, HVS

The UK's Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) has great ambitions. It wants to develop a whole new way of trucking for a new era with hydrogen-electric HGVs. However, the company got off to a difficult start. After launching in 2017, it nearly went into liquidation in 2019. Entrepreneur Jawad Khursheed bought HVS and relaunched it in 2020

Auto Futures recently caught up with CEO, Khursheed, and Head of Design, Pete Clark.

"It is a hydrogen technology innovator and disrupter in the commercial vehicle market Two of the biggest global goals right now are zero emissions and AI. We're very fortunate enough to have both of these incorporated within our vehicles, which makes us a global force," says Khursheed.

HVS has brought together a specialist team of automotive engineers, physicists, and mechanics, and worked to design a zero-emission hydrogen-electric HGV from the ground up.

"We're dealing with industry experts in all the technology fields, to support us to move ahead quickly," says Clark.

Hydrogen-powered mobility offers a number of advantages over battery electric vehicles, especially in the heavy duty commercial vehicle segment. 

"Hydrogen is the perfect fuel for the haulage industry, offering long ranges and quick refuelling thanks to stations being easily integrated into existing key transport networks," explains Khursheed.

HVS' zero-emission Hydrogen-Electric HGV features a 370 mile (600 kilometre) range and can be refuelled in 20 minutes.

"Operators can continue their operations, running day and night shifts, without the vehicles having to get off the road and recharge for hours, as well as putting stress on a electric grid for the country." adds Clark.

Making Every Drive The Best Drive

HVS is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, and is undertaking development work at Horiba MIRA, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. In the future, the company envisages opening an R&D, engineering and pilot production facility alongside a permanent UK-based production facility.  workforce of circa 600 employees is predicted across all its operations.

"We're not trying to retrofit anything into this vehicle we start with the end in mind... what this ensures is that every part of this vehicle is optimised and the most then becomes the most efficient hydrogen HGV on the market," says Khursheed.

Other variants of the hydrogen-fuelled 4x2 HGV tractor unit, including a left-hand drive variant, are also in the pipeline.

In terms of AI, HVS uses a software algorithm that takes in temperature data, domain data, financial data and driving habits, to make sure a vehicle is running as efficiently as possible.

"The objective really is to make every drive the best drive," explains Clark.

The UK's Transport Revolution

HVS heads a consortium, called Hub2Hub, which is developing an autonomous zero-emission HGV for the UK market. The consortium, which also includes Fusion Processing Ltd and UK food retailer ASDA, will build two prototype vehicles that will allow Level 4 autonomous-driving.

HVS' hydrogen-electric HGV prototype will be fitted with a driver’s cab and tested on the road in autonomous operation, using the Fusion Processing Ltd’s Automated Drive System, CAVStar®, with a human safety driver at the wheel. A second prototype will have the driver’s cab removed.

“A transport revolution is taking place in the UK and HVS, together with the consortium, is at the forefront of the innovation. We are engineering the world’s first autonomous hydrogen-electric powered HGV to demonstrate hub-to-hub logistics to a leading retailer, ASDA, to elevate public perception, showcasing the potential autonomy can deliver thanks to increased safety and fuel savings, and develop new business models,” states Khursheed.

Sean Clifton, Senior Fleet Manager, ASDA, comments: “Reducing our fleet emissions is a major part of our plan of moving towards net zero, so we are keen to look at innovative new technology, such as autonomous HGV tractor units, which can make a real difference to our carbon footprint. We will continue to work with like-minded partners on projects such as this to reduce our impact on the environment.”

Hydrogen Mobility Roadmap

HVS has set out a a roadmap to help the UK to remain competitive in the global hydrogen economy. It includes includes changes to legislation, green hydrogen production subsidies and commitments to infrastructure development, as well as support for workforce training.

“HVS' hydrogen technology holds a major key in supporting governmental emissions reduction targets, both here in the UK and in Europe, through the decarbonisation of the heavy goods sector. However, change in this market is not happening quickly enough," says Khursheed.

“HGVs are the second largest contributors to UK transport emissions. Whilst they make up just 1.5% of all vehicles on our roads, they contribute a disproportionate 19% of all vehicle emissions. With their numbers increasing, their emissions are likely to increase," he adds.

"Our roadmap shows how the haulage industry can seamlessly move from fossil-fuelled fleets to green hydrogen HGVs, enabling the UK to remain competitive globally and ensuring climate change goals are met,” concludes Khursheed.