A zero-emission Kenworth Class 8 T680 day cab tractor equipped with a Ballard hydrogen fuel cell is on display at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The truck is part of the Paccar Innovations booth exhibit—the first time Paccar and Kenworth have exhibited at the show.
The vehicle is part of the Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT) demonstration project managed through Southern California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The Kenworth T680 day cab’s fuel cell produces electricity to power the dual-rotor electric motor to move the truck, or it can recharge the lithium-ion batteries for use later.
According to Olsen, the hydrogen fuel-cell based Kenworth T680 will have an initial range of 150 miles (241 km), which makes it suited for short haul and port operations. With a dual-rotor traction motor output of 565 horsepower, the truck is capable of carrying the legal gross combination weight of a Class 8 vehicle.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.