Dual fuel bin lorries Ulemco
Ulemco’s hydrogen dual-fuel bin lorries will ply in densely populated urban areas, where improving air quality is a huge concern.
UK-based Ulemco, which champions the use of ultralow emission hydrogen fuelled vehicles, has delivered the world’s first hydrogen dualfuel bin lorries to Fife Council in Scotland. The lorries are converted to run on dual fuels (hydrogen and diesel), and will deliver reduced carbon emissions as well as improve the air quality for the local community. The new bin lorries are planned for use in densely populated urban areas, where improving air quality is a huge concern.
Specialising in dual fuel technology, Ulemco carried out the conversion on the bin lorries at its Liverpool facility. Subject to conversion were two Heil Farid vehicles adapted to run on both hydrogen and diesel. The work is part of a project that will also see the conversion of five Ford Transit vans and ten Renault HyKangoo vans to Hybrid Electric and Hydrogen Fuel Cell operation. According to Cllr Lesley Laird, Deputy Leader and Executive Spokesperson for Economy and Planning, Fife is leading the way in clean energy. “We envisage Levenmouth Community Energy Partnership becoming home to one of Europe’s largest fleet of hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles. I want to thank the partnership for all their hard work in bringing this innovative project to life,” he said.
Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of Ulemco averred that this is a global first for hydrogen vehicles and a really great example of the innovative approach that is needed to deliver the low carbon and low emission vehicles of the future. While the Levenmouth Community Energy Project aims to position Fife as a global leader in clean energy, the Hydrogen Office in Methil will become a world-class demonstrator of hydrogen applications generated from renewable sources. The Scotish Government, last year, recognised the importance of this project by awarding £.4.3 million from their Local Energy Challenge Fund. There will be hydrogen refuelling points at both the Hydrogen Office, Methil, and at the Council’s depot at Bankhead, Glenrothes.
Founded in 2014 as a spin out of Revolve Technologies, to commercialise intellectual property and capability in hydrogen combustion engine technology, Ulemco retrofits vehicles, starting with diesel Ford Transit vans to enable them to run on commercially available hydrogen. The technology allows vehicle fleet managers to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions to ultra-low levels. From Ulemco’s efforts, commercial fleets across the UK will benefit from a reduced carbon foot print while still having the full range capability of standard diesel vehicles. Alongside various partners, Ulemco already supports a fleet of 20 vehicles across a range of hydrogen hubs in the UK. The company is targeting commercial fleet retrofits to grow the market significantly over the next 18 months, and then expand into other vehicle types over the longer term. Its growth plans include creating a hydrogen refuelling network, to capitalise on the existing local infrastructure for this ‘green’ fuel.