Pure Hydrogen inks deal to trial hydrogen powered waste collection vehicle

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A render of the Solo general waste collection truck to be delivered in 2024. Image credit: Pure Hydrogen

Australian clean energy company Pure Hydrogen has signed an agreement for the provision of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) waste collection truck for Australian waste management company Solo Resource Recovery to service their Municipal contracts including Tweed Shire Council in northern New South Wales.

The ASX-listed company said the agreement with Solo includes further supply of HFC waste collection trucks, subject to certain conditions precedent, including a successful six-month trial outcome. 

The Solo trial truck will be a side-loading, general household collection vehicle, Pure Hydrogen revealed in a press release. 

The trial will allow Solo to assess the feasibility of the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle under various operating conditions.

It will also provide an opportunity for participating councils to determine how they can transition to hydrogen-fuelled electric waste collection vehicles, as well as the infrastructure required to support the technology.

The HFC garbage collecting vehicle from Pure Hydrogen is intended to have a range of roughly 300 km before needing to be refuelled.

Initially, the experiment will be refuelled at Solo’s Chinderah facility with 99.97 per cent pure hydrogen provided by Pure Hydrogen. 

Its driving range is determined by the route, topography, and quantity of services. Under normal operating settings, the vehicle emits 0 per cent CO2 gas emissions from the tailpipe, resulting in improved air quality for the towns where it will be tested.

The Pure Hydrogen HFCEV garbage truck will be provided to Solo for a six-month trial term, with an option to extend for up to seven years. 

During the six-month trial term, Solo will pay a rental fee of $82,500 plus GST, as well as a deposit and hydrogen use and maintenance charges. 

If the trial period is successful, the term sheet gives Solo the option to trial and accept more Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Trucks.

To date, Solo’s network throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia employs up to 40 garbage collection trucks per site.