Ford is leading research into the potential of hydrogen as a power source for its famous E-Transit all-electric commercial vehicle.

The UK-based research will see if hydrogen fuel cell technology can help deliver greater range for E-Transit customers in zero-emissions driving conditions with increased energy demands.

Ford’s consortium, which consists of six leading vehicle technology and fleet management partners, is funded in part by the Advanced Propulsion Center (APC) and is expected to help identify the required hydrogen fueling support infrastructure.

Ford Pro, Ford’s commercial vehicle and related services business arm, will use the pilot program to expand its conversion expertise, supported by engineers and E-Transit subject matter experts working on company premises in Dagenham and technical center in Dunton, Essex, UK.

Tim Slatter, president of Ford of the UK, said: “Ford believes that the main application of fuel cell technology could be in its larger and heavier commercial vehicles to ensure that they do not emit pollutants while meeting the high daily energy requirements of our customers”.

“Ford has made an unparalleled commercial vehicle story with the uncompromising Transit, and we’re excited to explore new ways to empower even our hardest-working vans to make clean deliveries.”

Incorporation of zero carbon dioxide emission technology into vehicles

Ford’s specific project with APC will validate the business viability of the whole endeavour, linking the former’s expertise as a UK van market leader for 57 years with fuel cell powertrain specialists and fleet managers including Ocado Retail. Other project partners are bp, which focuses on hydrogen use and infrastructure-related requirements, Cambustion, which tests the fuel cell system, Viritech, which designs the hydrogen storage systems, and Cygnet Texkimp , which provides carbon fiber tooling for pressure vessels.

Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen from the vehicle’s tank and oxygen, with the only emission being water. The system essentially uses the hydrogen tank as a “gas battery” to improve range and provide faster charging than solid-state batteries and mains chargers commonly used by electric vehicles. This can benefit fleet managers with difficult transport work and increased energy demands, as for example in long-distance journeys, in peak load transports or in cases where vans have limited charging opportunities during the work shift or transport auxiliary equipment, such as refrigerators.

Ford has been exploring fuel cell technology since the 1990s, developing several prototypes and refining the fleet of test vehicles in collaboration with customers. In 2021 Ford presented an E-Transit fuel cell vehicle at the CENEX Low Carbon Vehicle Show. At the European level, Ford is still involved in a number of publicly funded projects that also explore the use of hydrogen technologies, both for internal combustion engine and fuel cell vehicles.

A test fleet consisting of eight Ford E-Transit with hydrogen fuel cells will operate for 6-month periods during the three-year project, until 2025. The data collected will provide information on the total cost of ownership and operation of a large van, which will have an improved driving range of zero emissions and an operating time corresponding to a corresponding diesel model.

Ford E-Transit prototypes will be equipped with a high-power fuel cell array, as well as hydrogen storage tanks optimized for safety, high capacity and limited cost and weight. The entire project will also assess the efficient and sustainable recycling of end-of-life components.

Road to better

The project supports Ford’s ‘Road to Better’ sustainability commitment, demonstrating how the company’s European operations will be the first to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Ford has reduced emissions from its global manufacturing facilities by 40% from 2017.