(Finance) – General Motorsan American automotive giant, e Autocar Industriesa company active in customized professional trucks, have signed a joint development agreement to create a range of zero-emission professional vehicles powered by GM’s HYDROTEC power cubes.
The hydrogen fuel cells I’m a “key component of the electrification strategy” from GM that extends beyond battery-powered passenger vehicles, it said in a statement. Fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction. The fuel cell allows the conversion of the energy stored in the hydrogen into electricity to power a vehicle.
“Larger vehicles such as Autocar’s Class 8 trucks, garbage trucks and dock tractors require robust solutions that enable significant energy carrying capacity and rapid refueling times,” said Charlie Freese, GM executive director, Global HYDROTEC – We want to create solutions with zero exhaust emissions for larger, more energy-intensive vehiclesand fuel cells are ideal for more energy-intensive applications.”
The first of these vehicles is expected to enter in production in 2026 at the Autocar Truck plant in Birmingham, Alabama. Vehicles with HYDROTEC technology will be built to order by Autocar and will be sold directly to customers.
Every power cube contains more than 300 hydrogen fuel cellsalong with thermal and power management systems and proprietary controls for fuel cell and battery life and performance, while optimizing cold start capability.