(PRNewswire)—Hyzon Motors, a high-power H₂ fuel cell technology developer and global supplier of zero-emission heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles, Performance Food Group (PFG), one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America and Chart Industries, a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment servicing multiple applications in the clean energy and industrial gas market, announced successful completion of Hyzon's first commercial run with a liquid H₂ fuel cell electric vehicle (LH₂ FCEV).

Starting in Temple, TX, the truck completed deliveries to eight PFG customers near Dallas, TX, traveling over 540 miles on a 16-hr continuous run including over 100°F temperatures. The run—further than the distance from Sacramento to San Diego—demonstrates the viability of on-board liquid H₂ to fuel long-distance, zero-emission transport.

"With increased range and no added weight in comparison to our gaseous H₂ trucks, we believe this liquid H₂ demo run has demonstrated potential viability for the future of liquid H₂ in commercial trucking," said Hyzon Chief Executive Officer Parker Meeks. "The results we captured in the strenuous demo through Central Texas's diverse terrain and summer heat make us optimistic that, once commercialized, our liquid H₂ vehicle powered by our proprietary 200-kW fuel cell system should be able to provide long distance range between 650 and 800 miles, on par with many diesel truck range requirements."

Compared to gaseous H₂, the current industry standard, liquid H₂ allows Hyzon to increase the amount of fuel on board significantly thanks to increased energy density, with no changes to vehicle weight or payload. To maintain the energy-dense liquid state, H₂ requires cold temperatures of negative 400°F. Hyzon partnered with Chart Industries to develop a tank system capable of storing liquid H₂ at extremely cold temperatures and delivering it to the fuel cell system at the necessary pressure.

"This is a meaningful accomplishment for the H₂ ecosystem, as long-haul and heavy-duty transportation is a key end-use for liquid H₂," said Jill Evanko, Chart's CEO and President. "Our investment in our unique cryogenic liquid H₂ onboard tank and our liquid H₂ test facility support progress in the H₂ industry, with the Hyzon and PFG road demonstration another key step in the evolution of H₂ commercialization."

Liquid H₂ as a fuel source has been estimated to be up to $5/kg less expensive all-in to dispense than high-pressure gaseous H₂, which would provide meaningful benefits to fleet owners. Hyzon CEO, Meeks said, "simply put, we see liquid H₂ as the economical approach to long range zero emission trucking."

For vehicle testing and the demo run, liquid H₂ transportation, storage and dispensing was provided by Certarus, a North American leader in on-road low carbon energy solutions, with liquid H₂ produced by Air Liquide.