GM, Komatsu partner to develop hydrogen fuel cell for mining truck
General Motors (GM) and Komatsu are set to partner to build a hydrogen fuel cell for mining truck. The move is a step towards achieving zero-emission propulsion in heavy-duty applications.
The two will co-design and validate a hydrogen fuel cell power module for the Komatsu 930E electric drive mining truck. Mining trucks often operate at a single mine throughout their life, making it more feasible to establish effective hydrogen refueling infrastructure for these vehicles.
The hydrogen fuel cells provide a way to electrify heavy-duty vehicles like mining trucks without compromising their payload-carrying capacity. In the case of the Komatsu 930E, which has a nominal payload of 320 tonnes, the use of hydrogen fuel cells becomes advantageous.
HYDROTEC-powered mining vehicle
The companies plan to trial their first prototype, the HYDROTEC-powered mining vehicle, at Komatsu’s Arizona Proving Grounds research and development facility by the mid-2020s. This prototype will be powered by more than 2MW of HYDROTEC power cubes.
GM sees fuel cells playing a crucial role beyond passenger vehicles, especially in heavier-duty applications like mining trucks. They believe that hydrogen fuel cells are well-suited to provide zero-emissions propulsion for such demanding applications. The firm has been actively involved in research and product development related to fuel cells.
Komatsu has set ambitious sustainability goals, including a 50% reduction in global emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Lowering and phasing out emissions from products, facilities, and production lines is crucial for achieving these targets.
