Trials of First Hydrogen’s new showpiece are to commence with fleet management company Rivus, which manages around 120,000 vehicles. The trials will be beneficial for both parties for a multitude of reasons, including for future engineering and technology development.
The tie-up will begin with a driver training day held by First Hydrogen and AVL at Horiba MIRA. Rivus will then test one of First Hydrogen’s LCVs for a month in the Birmingham and Sheffield areas of the UK. Rivus will run First Hydrogen’s vehicle on pre-planned routes. Telematics and onboard instruments will capture data on vehicle performance, efficiency and fuel consumption. The findings will contribute to First Hydrogen’s overall evaluation and mileage accumulation program. At the end of the trial, Rivus will produce an independent report on the hydrogen-powered LCV’s performance, which will be available to fleet managers and Rivus customers.
Steve Gill, automotive CEO at First Hydrogen, commented, “It is incredibly valuable to partner with Rivus for the first of our vehicle fleet trials. As highly regarded fleet specialists, we’re keen to receive Rivus’s feedback. The team will put the vehicle through its paces and test it under various duty cycles. Rivus’s input will help us optimize performance and will also inform our plans for future vehicle development and deployment. The team’s expertise will also help us support fleet operators to switch to zero-emission vehicles.”
Thomas Maerz, CDO at Rivus, commented, “We are delighted to be the first trial participants and for our drivers to test this first-of-its-kind, zero-emission commercial vehicle. Having this time to evaluate the vehicle’s capabilities will significantly add to our insight into alternative fuels, especially in the LCV class. In light of 2030 targets, this knowledge enables us to help operators with critical fleets that need to transition to zero emission. Providing this support gives our customers confidence in their transition and fuels our ambition to create a cleaner and more sustainable future.”
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