IKEA Products Transported in Hydrogen ICE Truck

A hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) powered truck has hauled 40 tonnes of IKEA home furnishing products in Älmhult, Sweden.

The prototype heavy-duty truck, which was operated by Kaj Inrike, was equipped with Westport Fuel Systems’s H2 HPDI technology.

With this fuel system, diesel engine manufacturers can convert their ICEs to run on gases such as green hydrogen. According to Westport, H2 HPDI offers an affordable solution with higher power and torque than the same engine running on diesel.

This comes after Westport demonstrated the H2 HPDI fuel system in a truck hauling a refrigerated trailer in Madrid, Spain earlier this year.

The trial saw the demonstration green hydrogen production and refuelling with hydrogen fuel provider Metacon and hydrogen infrastructure firm Hydri.

Anders Johansson, Vice-President, Heavy-Duty OEM at Westport Fuel Systems, said: “Heavy hauling is recognised as amongst the most challenging applications within transportation to decarbonise. These heavy transport fleets require sustainable technologies that are viable for their operations as well as practical and affordable for today’s market.”

Michal Silhacek, Category Land Manager, IKEA Supply Chain Operations, added: “We are happy to dedicate one of our lanes, operated by KAJ Inrikes, to test the hydrogen-powered vehicle. We look forward to exploring the possible role of this technical solution in our future zero-emission transportation.”