Engineers at HVS have begun dyno metric testing of the company’s hydrogen fuel cell heavy goods vehicle. According to the OEM, this marks a milestone on the project. The prototype being assessed – test vehicle X1.5 – is powered by the same hydrogen fuel-cell technology that will feature in the HVS production vehicles.
X1.5 is being used for functionality and systems development. More specifically, specialists at HVS will work on refining the power delivery to provide a smooth and natural driving feel. While running the HGV prototype in various conditions, the team will collect data particularly via the rear e-axle and fuel cell systems. During this part of the test program, they will also do thermal mapping of the system’s output and will be closely monitoring the cooling of the fuel cells and battery pack to optimize the efficiency of the complete thermal system. Furthermore, the prototype will serve as a tool to develop the propulsion control strategy and the vehicle software for future builds.
X1.5 is an important precursor to the subsequent circuit testing prototypes. HVS’s next track test unit, X2, is soon to be commissioned, the company said, with track analysis scheduled to commence at the start of 2024.
