Fortescue’s hydrogen-powered truck operates off hydrogen for first time

Fortescue’s (ASX: FMG) hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype — Europa — has operated off hydrogen for the first time.

This development marks a major step in Fortescue’s mission to decarbonise heavy industry as well as its partnership with Liebherr Mining.

In partnership with Liebherr, Europa is a T 264 Liebherr haul truck that contains a 1.6MWh battery and 500KW of fuel cells. The prototype can store over 380kg of liquid hydrogen.

Fortescue chief executive Dino Otranto says the company is excited to have Europa operating.

“Following the success of our battery electric haul truck prototype at site, we’re thrilled to now have Europe up and running on hydrogen,” he said.

“We’re aiming to transport Europa to our mining operations within the coming weeks where it will undergo further site-based testing and commissioning.

“The subsequent test results will inform our future fleet of zero emissions trucks that we’re delivering with Liebherr.”

In June 2022, Fortescue and Liebherr partnered for the development and supply of zero emissions mining haul trucks.

Liebherr vice president of sales and marketing Joerg Lukowski commented on the partnership between the two companies.

“With Europa soon moving to site, Liebherr and Fortescue have taken an important step closer to their common target of developing and building zero emission solutions for the mining industry that are both field proven and energy agnostic,” he said.

“This success demonstrates the incredible capabilities of two Tier 1 companies working together to develop viable technologies today that can help the mining industry move towards a decarbonised future.”

Fortescue has already started taking deliveries of the first T 264 diesel electric trucks which will be converted to zero emissions technology before the end of the decade.