The first Quantron QLI FCEV was symbolically handed over to hylane, in what marks a one-year anniversary of the first fuel cell truck being in operation on German roads via the hylane rental model.
hylane, a firm that offers hydrogen-powered trucks on rent, is planning a fleet of zero-emission Quantron transporters that will be rented out on a pay-per-use model.
The first customer for the Quantron QLI FCEV vehicles is a company from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The Quantron QLI FCEV is the first fuel cell vehicle in the 5t class on the German market.
The vehicle offers an impressive range of up to 450 kilometres with a tank capacity of 8.2kg of hydrogen, and the refuelling time is only about 10 minutes, noted the press release.
The zero-emission properties of the Quantron QLI FCEV allow it to be exempt from tolls in Germany, unlike diesel vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, which will be subject to tolls from July 2024.
Sara Schiffer, Managing Director, hylane said, “With the hydrogen transporters from Quantron, we are adding vehicles to our fleet that have been specifically designed for use on the ‘last mile’. We are convinced that fuel cell technology is ideally suited to meeting the key challenges of urban transportation,” she said, adding that the speed of the refuelling process is important for customers.
“We are also impressed by the weight efficiency of Quantron vehicles, which not only improves range but also maximises payload. This is a key advantage for ‘last mile’ deliveries, where flexibility and efficiency are top priorities,” Schiffer added.
Andreas Haller, Founder and Executive Chairman, Quantron AG said, “With the use of the hydrogen-electric Quantron QLI FCEV, we are pioneering emission-free freight transportation on the last mile. However, the demand for emission-free solutions is also increasing in the heavy commercial vehicle sector.”
Haller added that Hydrogen is an attractive alternative due to its short refueling times and long ranges and that “hylane and Quantron were exploring further cooperation in the heavy truck sector.”