Today, October 8 is Hydrogen Fuel Cell Day, there is news from Hyzon, Toyota and Nikola.
Hzyon started production of its single-stack 200kW Fuel Cell System. Toyota is showing portable hydrogen cans. Purina is using Nikola trucks to deliver kitty litter and more.
Hyzon 200kW Fuel Cell System
Hyzon (NASDAQ: HYZN) (“Hyzon” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based, high-performance, hydrogen fuel cell system manufacturer and technology developer focused on providing zero-emission power to decarbonize the most demanding industries, today announced the Start of Production (SOP) of its revolutionary single-stack 200kW Fuel Cell System (FCS). This enables Hyzon to manufacture standardized FCSs at volume for commercial sale, further accelerating the decarbonization of heavy-duty industries.
“We are excited to announce the start of production of our single-stack 200kW fuel cell system on National Hydrogen Fuel Cell Day,” said Hyzon Chief Executive Officer Parker Meeks. “Our Bolingbrook facility is one of the largest fully-integrated fuel cell systems production facilities in the United States and the only 200kW single-stack fuel system to be launched into serial production, a significant step for zero emission technology manufacturing in the US. This milestone also represents another inflection point in our mission to decarbonize heavy-duty industries. By standardizing and scaling-up production, we can provide more customers with the high-performance, zero-emission solutions they need to meet their sustainability goals. As we mark this achievement on a day that celebrates the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology, we’re reinforcing our commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
At SOP, all necessary conditions for full-scale manufacturing have been met, allowing Hyzon to transition from building prototypes to producing standardized units. Fully integrated manufacturing is a key element to Hyzon’s manufacturing strategy enabling rapid product development, customer responsiveness, and high power. While most other manufacturers source individual fuel cells or their components, Hyzon is integrated down to the design and production of its proprietary Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), the core component of a fuel cell and FCS.
“Our transition to full-scale manufacturing is a major milestone, as it allows us to move from building prototypes to producing standardized units at volume – from MEA to complete FCS,” said Hyzon Chief Technology Officer Dr. Christian Mohrdieck. “With the in-house design, development, and now manufacturing of our proprietary 7-layer MEA, we are advancing cutting-edge technology that is crucial to delivering high-performance, zero-emission solutions. This achievement underscores Hyzon’s technological leadership and our commitment to innovation in hydrogen fuel cell development and production.”
According to Chief Operating Officer Dr. Bappa Banerjee, the declaration of the SOP validates Hyzon’s ability to produce 700 fuel cell systems per year over a three-shift operation.
“The systems pass through in-line quality gates that include laser and optical vision systems and go through rigorous end-of-line tests to confirm all performance requirements are met,” Banerjee said. “All of this is done to ensure the performance of our vehicles meet or exceed the performance of diesel trucks on routes that include long stretches of steep grades as has been demonstrated during our customer trials,” he added.
Having successfully passed the ISO 9001 audit in September 2024, Hyzon expects to achieve formal ISO 9001 certification for its fuel cell manufacturing and design/R&D activities in Q4 2024, ensuring its development and production processes meet the highest international standards for quality management.
This aligns with best practices in technology and automotive product development and manufacturing. This rigorous process ensures modifications are only introduced after their maturity and contribution to performance improvement have been fully validated, reinforcing Hyzon’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality, reliable solutions.
The 200kW FCS SOP comes on the heels of the company’s previously announced SOP of its innovative Class 8 200kW Fuel Cell Electric Truck (FCET), which was declared last month.
Hyzon also joins the nation in celebrating the tenth annual National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, which commemorates the vast versatility hydrogen energy and fuel cell technologies offer the nation to reduce carbon emissions while generating domestic energy, decarbonize heavy industry, and drive economic growth and prosperity. National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day is observed on October 8 (10.08), in recognition of the atomic weight of hydrogen – 1.008.
Portable Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cartridges in Japan from Toyota
Toyota is working on research and development toward realizing a carbon-neutral society based on a multi-pathway approach with diverse viable energy options. Hydrogen is the ultimate clean energy that emits no CO2 during use, and CO2 emissions can also be minimized during the production process when renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are used. Hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in fuel cell systems and can also be used as a combustion fuel.
These portable hydrogen cartridges will be exhibited for the first time in Japan at this event. The technology Toyota has cultivated in the development of FCEVs is used to reduce the size and weight of hydrogen tanks, which were previously large and difficult to carry, to a size that can be carried by hand. They are designed to make hydrogen a familiar and safe energy source that can be used in a variety of everyday situations.
A hydrogen-powered cooker developed together with Rinnai Corporation will also be exhibited as an example of hydrogen use, where hydrogen in portable cartridges is used for fuel cells to generate electricity or for cooking by combusting hydrogen gas in portable hydrogen cartridges.
Through this exhibition, Toyota aims to find matches with the technologies and ideas of various companies and startups from a variety of perspectives, including both providing services and developing and selling devices using portable hydrogen cartridges. In doing so, Toyota will further strengthen its efforts to use portable hydrogen cartridges and help create a hydrogen society.
Purina Delivers Kitty Litter in Nikola Fuel Cell Trucks
Nestlé Purina PetCare, in collaboration with The Kenan Advantage Group, Inc. (KAG) and Nikola Corporation, launched its first zero-tailpipe-emission delivery with the use of a hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck this week. On its inaugural journey, the truck is transporting Purina products, including Tidy Cats cat litter, between three California cities: Stockton, Maricopa and Modesto. This represents a small part of Purina’s overall strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are continuously identifying new opportunities within our business and through partnerships to help us meet our sustainability goals,” said Travis Krous, Purina senior director of Supply Chain Operations. “This truck represents an exciting opportunity to test new technology and determine if it’s feasible to scale.”
Purina’s manufacturing strategy promotes regional production and distribution, minimizing the number of long-distance trucks on the road. KAG will deliver Purina products using the Class 8 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck, which has a maximum range of up to 500 miles and can be refueled in 20 minutes or less, all while producing zero tailpipe emissions while driving. According to Nikola, one truck avoids 97 metric tons of CO2 tailpipe emissions per year on average — the equivalent of taking 23 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.
“We’re excited to transport products on our first hydrogen fuel cell truck while helping our valued customer and partner, Purina, drive its sustainability goals forward,” said Tyler Coventry, executive vice president of KAG Food Products. “We’re committed to implementing more sustainable practices within the supply chain by optimizing the use of energy-efficient technologies.”
“We are proud to support Purina’s sustainability initiatives by supplying KAG with its first-ever hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 truck,” said Steve Girsky, Nikola president and CEO. “This collaboration aligns with our mission to drive innovation and environmental responsibility in the transportation industry.”
Developing Litter with a Focus on Sustainability
At its Tidy Cats-producing factory in Maricopa, Purina has implemented solar drying technology for the clay used in both scooping and non-scooping litter — an innovative solution which has led to substantial reductions in energy needs.
Purina is also taking steps to reduce its use of virgin plastics globally. Key to this effort is incorporating recycled content into packaging. By the end of the year, all Tidy Cats litter jugs will be made with 100 percent recycled content. Specially designed pail refill bags also help reduce plastic waste and allow cat owners to reuse pails.
Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, wholesaled 88 Class 8 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell trucks, firmly within truck sales guidance of between 80 and 100 fuel cell units for the quarter.