Companies such as Hyundai, BMW and Toyota are among those with a small fleet of FCEVs which they lease to end-users.
The Spectronik truck, converted from an Italian small battery electric truck, will be driven around the Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles at Nanyang Technological University to ensure it is safe before it goes out on road trials at JTC CleanTech Park in Jurong West.
The truck’s two hydrogen tanks will be swopped with fresh ones when they are empty, as there are no hydrogen refuelling points here.
Spectronik is also working on running hydrogen fuel cell pilots with fleet operators such as food and parcel delivery companies.
Spectronik Chief Executive Jogjaman Jap said the trials with the 1-tonne truck “will provide proof of concept for the viability of hydrogen fuel in the commercial fleet vehicle space”.
He added: “It will enable prospective customers to experience hydrogen transport solutions first-hand and help us engage with potential customers and provide data to inform the development and production of future vehicles.”
According to Mr Jap, hydrogen fuel cells have a longer range than battery electric vehicles, and are significantly faster to refuel. Like battery electric vehicles, they do not produce any tailpipe emissions.
In the next five years, Spectronik is targeting to put a fleet of hydrogen FCEVs – such as vans and minibuses – on public roads, alongside a hydrogen refuelling station to serve these vehicles.
He said fuel cells designed by Spectronik are the most cost-competitive in the industry.
“We have a collaboration with Toyota Motor, which uses our fuel cells for their football-playing robots featured in the last World Cup,” he added.
The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association of Singapore said it is working on a technical reference for hydrogen refuelling stations together with industry experts.
Spectronik plans to expand its fuel cell research and development, advanced manufacturing and testing facilities at JTC CleanTech.
Mr Anil Das, Director of JTC’s Logistics and Transport Cluster, said: “Spectronik’s hydrogen-powered vehicle trials represent a new milestone in the path towards developing a range of sustainable mobility solutions in Jurong Innovation District for fleet operators here and regionally.
“JTC remains committed to supporting companies like Spectronik that are keen on establishing novel ways to decarbonise mobility in Singapore.”
