Loop fuel cells for German transport specialist

Loop Energy will supply its eFlow fuel cell modules as range extenders -Transporte’s battery electric trucks.

Loop Energy and Rheintal-Transporte, a Neuwied, Germany freight haulage company specializing in clean transport services, have announced an agreement for the development and supply of heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell range extension solutions for battery electric trucks in Europe.

As a part of the agreement, Rheintal is looking to use Loop’s eFlow fuel cell modules to expand driving range capabilities of battery electric trucks to the levels required by its fleet of long-haul cold-chain logistics vehicles. Rheintal anticipates orders of eFlow fuel cell modules for more than 20 zero-emission hydrogen trucks and trailers over the next 24 months.

In addition to supply of its fuel cell products, the agreement provides Rheintal with full access to Loop’s complementary Total Customer Care services, designed to provide end-to-end technical support as well as access to a network of pre-qualified channel partners specializing in hydrogen electric power train design, supply of various sub-system components and hydrogen fuel infrastructure.

Rheintal’s evolution to hydrogen fuel cell electric freight transport aligns with its goal of enabling emission-free customer transport deliveries before 2030.

“Over the last two years, Rheintal has evaluated a range of zero-emission vehicle options and determined that pure battery-electric solutions alone will not meet either our operational demands or range requirements,” said Wolfgang Normann, principal of Rheintal-Transporte. “After a thorough review of next-generation vehicle powertrain solutions, we chose Loop Energy as our catalyst for carbon-free power as their eFlow fuel cell range extender system offers a superior blend of benefits from a battery electric system coupled with a hydrogen fuel engine to augment its range limitation.”

“This partnership will help pave the way for enabling a heavy-duty vehicle with a total cost-of-ownership that is comparable to traditional solutions, and with similar operational characteristics to diesel engines, said George Rubin, chief commercial officer of Loop Energy. “We look forward to growing our relationship with Rheintal further in the years ahead.”