Hyzon Motors and privately held New Way Trucks (New Way), formed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to develop a fuel cell-powered refuse vehicle for the North American market. Hyzon and New Way plan to start the advanced phases of truck development, with the initial base FCEV prototype ready for refuse collection equipment integration.

Hyzon said it will be responsible for the supply and integration of its advanced fuel cell technology and integrated powertrain, while New Way will be responsible for the supply and integration of the prototype’s Sidewinder XTR automated side-load refuse body.

“New Way has a successful history of deploying alternative powertrain refuse equipment across North America,” Don Ross, New Way’s chief sales officer, said. “Partnering with Hyzon to bring the continent’s first Class 8 FCEV refuse collection vehicle to life is a significant step in helping our customers meet their sustainability and decarbonization objectives.”

Across North America, Hyzon estimates that about 120,000 refuse trucks are currently operational, consuming a total of over 953 million gallons of diesel fuel annually. The integration of FCEVs into refuse collection fleets in North America provides an opportunity to help decarbonize the industry and reduce noise pollution from diesel trucks, the company said. Moreover, Hyzon said it expects fuel cell-powered refuse trucks to deliver performance levels on par with both diesel and natural gas trucks.

Initial customer trials for the parties’ first North American prototype truck are planned to begin in the first half of 2024 with a mix of public and private refuse fleets. Additionally, Hyzon said it is targeting initial commercial vehicle deliveries in 2025 on the back of potential successful trials. Upon trial deployment, the trucks are expected to achieve up to a 125-mile driving range, 1,200 refuse cart lifts per route, an unladen weight significantly lighter than an equivalent battery-electric truck and a refueling time of 15 minutes based on performance observed to date in the Remondis trial.

Through trials, Hyzon said its goal is to demonstrate to customers and the industry that fuel cell-powered refuse vehicles can be the primary choice for any refuse management company interested in minimizing its carbon footprint and modernizing its fleets.