As part of the company's commitment to the Scientific Carbon Reduction Initiative (a necessary measure to achieve the Paris agreement targets) and the group's long-term ambition to be 100 per cent fossil-free by 2040, this groundbreaking investment will provide Volvo with unique conditions to test and develop hydrogen fuel cell technology solutions in heavy construction machinery and other applications. The dedicated laboratory, located at the Volvo building equipment (Volvo CEE) technology center in Eskielstyina, Sweden, represents an important step forward in the company's commitment to hydrogen energy. The lab is also the first Volvo facility to test a complete fuel cell unit and will contribute significantly to the company's commitment to fuel cell technology. "Fuel Cell Technology is a key driver of sustainable solutions for heavy construction machinery, and this investment provides another important tool for our efforts to achieve science-based goals, " said Toni Hagelberg, head of sustainable energy for Volvo's construction equipment. The lab will also serve the Volvo group globally as it is the first to offer such advanced testing. This is an exciting step towards accelerating the development of fuel cell solutions and moving towards a shared vision of a carbon-neutral society,"he said. Promoting A zero-emission world through hydrogen energy Volvo building equipment sees hydrogen fuel cell technology as key to its goal of achieving an overall electric device, there are battery powered solutions, such as electric compact machines and more sustainable internal combustion engines -- All of which go hand in hand with carbon neutral societies. While Battery Electric Solutions are ideal for urban construction and other use cases, the size of the battery may be too far away for large machines and heavy construction equipment, that's why hydrogen is a promising alternative. "hydrogen energy can be produced in many different ways, and it is important to adopt a life-cycle approach throughout the value chain, " says Hagelberg. The research in the test lab will not only focus on producing fossil-free building equipment solutions, but we will also look at the mode of production of hydrogen energy itself and try to produce so-called 'green' hydrogen from renewable energy, fuel cells work by combining hydrogen with oxygen, and the resulting chemical reaction produces electrical energy. The process has zero emissions and the only by-product is water vapor. In principle, a fuel cell works much like a battery, except that it generates its own electricity from hydrogen in the car, rather than being charged from an external power source. This means it can achieve longer mileage and is therefore more feasible for long-distance transport and heavy equipment. Another benefit of hydrogen fuel cell solutions is that they will also be free from traditional mechanical noise pollution. Without an internal combustion engine, a hydrogen powered machine would have the same low noise level as a compact electric machine. A joint venture between Volvo and Daimler Truck recently established a battery center to accelerate the development, production and commercialization of fuel cell solutions for long-haul trucks and other areas. Similarly, the fuel cell testing laboratory is also a key component of Volvo's goal of 100% fossil fuel free by 2040.
