Aberdeen City Council has taken delivery of the world’s first hydrogen-powered road sweeper to its vehicle fleet.
The modified DAF truck has been supplied by ULEMCo, and converted to run on both diesel and hydrogen fuel, with a subsequent reduction in emissions of 30 percent predicted. The hybrid road sweeper will run on hydrogen for approximately one third of its use, and will use the Aberdeen City Hydrogen Energy Storage (ACHES) refuelling station which produces the gas from renewable electricity.
Cllr Philip Bell, Aberdeen City Council’s hydrogen spokesperson, said, “The delivery of this vehicle is part of our strategy to increase the deployment of hydrogen vehicles across the city and keeps us at the forefront globally by demonstrating the practicality and operational flexibility of hydrogen technologies. Low carbon technology is already making an impact in Aberdeen and we are committed to continuing to push boundaries in the way we manage our own fleet. Our investment in low carbon is significant and is part of our wider transport strategy, with a focus on infrastructure which is changing the way traffic flows around the city. All of these advances are bringing great benefit to Aberdeen.”
Amanda Lyne, CEO of ULEMCo said, “This latest initiative further demonstrates the potential for hydrogen dual fuel to make a significant impact on reducing diesel emissions from commercial vehicles. We have demonstrated how ULEMCo technology can be applied to many different vehicles, with practical and measurable benefits.”
