For our fleet manager Oliver Schramm, it was a relieving feeling to see the modern trucks in his own yard after a long planning phase. Just one day later, they went into service for the customer Penny and are now running double shifts in which the new drive concept has to prove itself under real conditions.
Many partners present at handover
In addition to Oliver Schramm, representatives from Hyundai and most of the other project partners were also present: while the chassis came from Hyundai, the insulated box body was manufactured by Schmitz Cargobull. The electrically operated refrigeration unit was again supplied by Carrier Transicold, Dautel was responsible for the tail lift, and Goodyear for the tires. In addition, the operator of the hydrogen refueling station network, H2 MOBILITY, sent company employees to the official handover. The drivers and representatives of DEKRA, which has its own workshop at the Freienbrink site, were also present. On the very day of the handover, the drivers received their first training, vehicle instruction, driving training and practiced the refueling process.
Hydrogen drive offers clear advantages
For our fleet manager Oliver Schramm, the advantages of fuel cell technology are clear: “For our customers in food and fresh produce logistics, early morning deliveries are important. The noise emission of the approaching trucks is much lower with the new fuel cell drive, which pleases residents and the environment and gives us the opportunity to deliver earlier to our customers. Compared to electric drive, however, the fuel cell has a much greater range per refueling. I therefore consider this drive technology superior to electric trucks in the long term.” Hyundai’s fuel cell trucks have a total of seven individual hydrogen tanks with a combined storage capacity of around 31 kilograms of hydrogen. A fully fueled hydrogen truck travels over 400 km per refueling, and the refueling process is similarly simple to that of an electric truck, but takes only 15 minutes on average, depending on the ambient temperature.
Pioneering has a tradition at Meyer Logistik
As a family-owned company, we have always been strongly committed to sustainability and are pioneers in the field of alternative drives in particular. Early on, we tested and trialed environmentally friendly technologies. The new hydrogen trucks underscore this commitment, which ranges from e-mobility to trolley trucks and vehicles with liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks. Oliver Schramm comments: “With our current commitment to hydrogen propulsion, we are of course taking a certain financial risk, because this propulsion technology is not yet profitable at present, despite economic support. But someone has to take the first step if we as a society, and especially in logistics, really want to tackle decarbonization. We also assume that the current challenges in the field of hydrogen, i.e. the still small filling station network and the hydrogen purchase prices, will have normalized in three to four years. Personally, the great enthusiasm and motivation of the drivers to ‘drive in’ and demonstrate the technology in the German market has already compensated me for all the previous planning efforts.” Once the market for hydrogen has been established in Germany, it will not be long before it is sustainably produced from renewable energy sources, Oliver Schramm is certain. As a responsible family business, we want to play our part in leaving the world’s climate as intact as possible for future generations.
