REWE is taking a further step towards climate neutrality with its first hydrogen-powered lorry, a Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell. The vehicle is part of a company project on alternative drives in delivery transport. REWE Group has set itself the goal of being climate-neutral at company level by 2040.
At the end of January, the new Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell hydrogen fuel cell truck rolls off the premises of the REWE Region West logistics centre in Cologne-Langel for the first time. We are thus taking the next step towards low-emission goods transport. According to REWE West's projections, the single use of the new lorry alone will save around 58,000 kilos ofCO2 per year compared to a conventional diesel lorry.
The Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell runs emission-free on hydrogen. © Michael Breuer | photokonzept
The vehicle has a permissible total weight of 27 tonnes, 18 Euro pallet bays and a range of around 400 kilometres. With the associated cold store, it can be used like a conventional lorry and can also deliver products that require refrigeration or deep-freezing. The H2 truck is fuelled with green hydrogen and is therefore 100 percent emission-free on the road. Consumption is around eight kilos of hydrogen per 100 kilometres. Refuelling takes place at nearby H2 filling stations. A full refuelling corresponds to 32 kilos of hydrogen and takes around eleven minutes.
Alex Funkner, Fleet Technology Logistics REWE Region West, Thomas Heitel, Head of Logistics REWE Region West, Hanno Rieger, Chairman of the Management REWE Region West, Eric Berendonk, Head of Technology REWE Logistics Region West (from left). © Michael Breuer | photokonzept
"We are looking forward to the new vehicle and are very proud to be able to contribute our experience to the entire REWE Group project," says Eric Berendonk, Head of Technology REWE Logistics Region West. "This is a further step in our forward-looking corporate policy," he adds.
Filling up once takes 11 minutes. © Michael Breuer | photokonzept
REWE is carrying out various tests on alternative drive systems this year. Among other things, process-related effects and consumption figures are being analysed. The results will form the basis for future fleet procurement decisions.
Both German and English comments appear here.
Really good thing. Hydrogen definitely makes sense for large, heavy vehicles such as lorries. NRW also plays a major role as a hydrogen location, as many companies are active in our federal state and, accordingly, many people are employed here. The amount of GDP generated in NRW is also not to be sneezed at. REWE is - in my view - as always "ahead of the game". Good luck with the project and lots more hydrogen-powered lorries.
It's good that not everyone is jumping on the "electric bandwagon" and that hydrogen is also being given a chance.
An important and correct step in the right direction. It remains to be hoped that the hydrogen energy model will also be launched on the market for cars in the near future in an ecologically and economically viable way for everyone. It's great that REWE is showing what the future-oriented solution looks like. PRIMA !