First Hydrogen is harnessing the ‘best of the best’ to capitalise on a once-in-a-century opportunity – a confluence of design, technology, emission regulations, clean energy and a wide-open market.
As a Vancouver and London-based company with a team of global leaders with world-renowned experience, we are on a journey to become the leading designer and manufacturer of zero-emission, long-range hydrogen-powered utility vehicles in the UK, EU and North America.
First Hydrogen understands the importance of strategic partnerships and is partnered with two key organisations to achieve this aim at pace:
- Ballard Power Systems – a leading global provider of innovative clean energy and fuel cell solutions. It was founded in 1979 to conduct research on high-energy lithium batteries, developing their first fuel stack in 1986, which operated on pressurised air; and
- AVL Powertrain UK – the world’s largest independent company for development, simulation, and testing in the automotive industry and other sectors. As a global technology leader, AVL provides concepts, solutions and methodologies in the fields of e-mobility, ADAS and autonomous driving, vehicle integration, digitalisation, virtualisation, Big Data, and much more. AVL drives sustainable mobility trends for a greener future with an international network of experts that extends over 26 countries and 45 tech and engineering centres worldwide.
Demonstrator vans
The initial design of our light commercial demonstrator vehicle for the UK market is already completed, and delivery of the first two lightweight commercial demonstrator vans will be completed in late 2022 and will then move to full commercialisation.
The vans will use the MAN eTGE as a donor vehicle and be equipped with the latest generation Ballard FCgen®-LCS fuel cell, giving the vehicles a range of more than 500 km.
FCEV trial with Wales & West Utilities
First Hydrogen is partnering with Wales & West Utilities (WWU) to conduct trials of the company’s hydrogen fuel cell powered light commercial vehicle (FCEV).
The FCEV will be stationed at WWU’s Swansea depot and will be part of the business’s fleet vehicles, used across Wales and the southwest of England. It will aid network engineers in customer call-outs and maintenance work.
The trial aims to demonstrate the advantages of First Hydrogen’s FCEV over battery electric vehicles, particularly in terms of range (630 km/400 mi), payload towing, and fast refuelling capabilities.
This FCEV is the first of its kind in Wales and is supported by Protium Green Solutions and Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions, which will help develop a hydrogen ecosystem to support WWU’s operations.
