2023-01-23
The January 2023 Alternative Power Report produced by PSR’s Guy Youngs and other analysts at Power Systems Research includes several articles on hydrogen power. New applications of hydrogen power from construction to marine are discussed in this issue. Plans by OEMs Audi and BMW for new EV cars also are discussed. PSR
2023-01-22
According to newly published research by Interact Analysis, hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2 ICE) are forecast to be sold in 220,000 vehicles in 2035.
On the plus side, H2 ICE vehicles have some notable advantages. The engine technology is reasonably similar to diesel engines, enabling use of existing knowledge, design and production vehicles. The vehicles can deliver high power, work with impure fuel, work in dirty and dusty conditions and refuel quickly.
On the downside, there is no hydrogen infrastructure in place in almost all locations in the world, there is a lack of awareness about the technology and limited development so far. Most importantly, the current cost of hydrogen fuel is high – it will need a big reduction before the vehicles can become competitive. Even at half the cost of today, H2 ICE vehicles do not have a good total cost of ownership. The cost of the engine is not substantial, but the cost of the tanks adds a lot to the cost of the vehicle, then there is infrastructure and above all hydrogen fuel.
JCB’S £100 million investment in a project to produce super-efficient hydrogen engines is going full steam ahead. A team of 100 engineers has been working on the exciting development for more than a year and the 50th JCB hydrogen combustion engine has now come off the production line as part of the development process.
JCB’s hydrogen-fueled backhoe loader is one of three hydrogen vehicles the OEM is developing. JCB hydrogen engines are powering prototype backhoe loaders and Loadall telescopic handlers and the company has recently unveiled its very own designed and built mobile refueling bowser to take fuel to the machines. The bowser has enough hydrogen to fill 16 hydrogen backhoe loaders and can be transported either on the back of a modified Fastrac tractor or on a trailer.
Hyster Company is testing a top-pick container handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) at Fenix Marine Services in the Port of Los Angeles.
Based on the standard Hyster H1050-1150XD-CH top-pick container handler design, the truck is powered by two 45kw hydrogen fuel cells from Nuvera, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster parent company Hyster-Yale Group. The HFC-powered top pick is designed to provide the zero emissions benefits of a battery electric option, with enough capacity to keep operators moving and avoid the need to stop in the middle of a shift to refuel or recharge.
SUMMARY. Many of the biggest challenges facing the U.S. economy in 2022 are continuing into 2023. These problems include supply chain disruptions, the migration of production and use of internal combustion engines to alternative drive types, uncertainty of inflation and rising interest rates, and the war in Ukraine.
There were also positives which came out of 2022, including a return to more face-to-face business transactions and meetings. Trade shows made a big comeback in 2022, and this trend will continue in 2023 as the huge CONEXPO-CON/AGG will be held in March in Las Vegas.
The push towards electrification is not all negative either. Innovation and action around alternative drive types will continue to grow.
FPT, Mahle and Brazilian universities are working to develop an FPT F1C Bi-Fuel engine to meet Brazilian transportation needs using Ethanol, or Biomethane and Hydrogen for use in hybrid vehicle applications.
The project involves the creation of mathematical models, which will be used to characterize and predict the behavior of the engine operating with ethanol and biomethane, assisting in the development of components and hardware, and testing the equipment at Mahle’s technology center in Jundiaí (SP).
PSR Analysis. Brazil and much of South America have extensive renewable sources for fuel. FPT and Mahle are betting on alternatives that cost effectively meet the decarbonization needs consistent with infrastructure restrictions. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research
Construction of the first world carbon-neutral synthetic fuel plant was started in Chile, in December 2022. With a US$55 million investment in the project, Siemens Energy, HIF Global and Porsche will produce Methanol and Gasoline using water, wind and CO2. The plant has a planned capacity of 550 million liters in 2027.
The Haru Oni plant is Installed in the Magallanes, Chilean Patagonia region. It is known for the vast potential for its hydrogen market, with winds of more than 6,000 hours of charge to generate green electricity, three times more than in Europe.
Source: Automotive Business Read The Article
PSR Analysis. Cost competitiveness is the major factor in the success of this project. E-fuels are an interesting alternative to accelerate the decarbonization of the transportation industry, especially in vehicles with complex electrification, such as ocean-going vessels and airplanes where the energy density and battery weight becomes a difficult factor. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research
In December 2022, the Brazilian Government published regulations for the Fleet Renewal Program authorized by the law that was published in H1 2022. Under this regulation, truck owners may receive the old truck market value from companies in the Oil and Gas exploration chain, provided that they prove the truck was taken out of circulation, disassembly and recycled. The program is voluntary, both for owners selling the old truck and for O&G companies designating resources for the program in exchange for a reduction of duties on O&G exploration contracts.
Source: M&T Read The Article
PSR Analysis. Preliminary analysis suggests the program won’t be very effective, since significant recycling and paperwork efforts are required to sell the old truck at market prices. It seems this is a regulation published to show environmental efforts, but one that will have limited effectiveness. No impact is seen in the Truck Market now unless market conditions change drastically. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research
Cost increases in several areas caused HanseYachts AG to report a loss of EUR 20.72 million (US$25 million) for the fiscal year 2021/2022 ended June 30, 2022. However, because of the great demand during the pandemic for sailing boats and fully complete order books, production increased from 446 to 568 boats, compared to the previous year.
Revenues totaled EUR 132,38 million, an increase of 22.8% compared to the previous fiscal year. But, at the same time, costs of materials increased 40.7%, personal expenses climbed 22% and other operating costs increased 58%. All this led to a net loss higher by 130.5% compared to the previous fiscal year.
The recent Covid-19 shutdown and worker absenteeism heavily impacted the finances of the group for fiscal year 2021/2022.
HanseYacht Group said it will not exhibit this year at BOOT, the biggest indoor pleasure boat trade show held in Dusseldorf, Germany.
2023-01-20
CNH Industrial Group says it is stopping the sales of construction machinery and equipment in the Chinese market after Dec. 31, 2022. This is another significant development by foreign brands in the Chinese market.
John Deere withdrew from the Chinese market after the original industrial structure was changed by the merger of the Chinese plant of Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. At the same time, Hitachi Construction Machinery also made changes to Hitachi Construction Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., which is responsible for sales and services in China, and set up a new sales and service company, “Hitachi Construction Machinery Sales (China) Co., Ltd.”, which began operating Nov. 1, 2022.
On Dec. 29, 2020, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that from Dec. 1, 2022, all off-road mobile machines below 560kw (including 560kw) produced, imported and sold and their diesel engines installed shall meet the requirements of the Chinese IV emission standard. The implementation time of Chinese IV emission of off-road mobile machinery above 560kw and its installed diesel engines has not been announced.
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