After the successful test period at the Antwerp Euroterminal in Beveren, the hydrogen proof-of-concept tractor has arrived at PSA Antwerp for another two weeks of testing in combination with a mobile hydrogen filling station. The tractor will be handling containers at the terminal.
The test period in Belgium is part of the Hydrolog project, by the Flanders Institute for Logistics (VIL), and the test results will be used in the further development of the concept tractor.
At the end of 2020 and during the first half of 2021 the tractor was tested at two sites in the Netherlands (UWT Rotterdam and CTU Utrecht) before it was shipped to Belgium for additional testing at three customer sites (a distribution centre, Antwerp Euroterminal and PSA Antwerp).
Following the test period at the Antwerp Euroterminal in Beveren, Belgium, Yves de Larivière, Managing Director Antwerp Euroterminal commented: “We have been using the vehicle for a week and a half. Both the vehicles we have tested, a forklift truck and this tractor, really meet our needs, and we can use them fully operationally. Remy de Bruijn, Terberg Business development manager added: “We asked the drivers to get the most from the vehicle, to get sufficient data.”
The test at AET is part of the Hydrolog project in which 18 Belgian companies cooperate to promote hydrogen as a transport fuel, with support from the Flemish government.
Terberg will use the results of these and other tests to refine the design and build the preproduction series in 2022. Commercial introduction of the hydrogen powered tractor is planned for 2023.
Pictured is Hilde Crevits, Flemish minister of Economy, Innovation, Work, Social economy and Agriculture