Hyzon Motors is ready to deliver a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered coaches headed to the harsh mining landscape of Western Australia. Testing for Fortescue Metals Group showcased capabilities of zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell coach with up to 800km range, the manufacturer says.

New York-based Hyzon is about to go public and be listed on Nasdaq via business combination with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corp.

Hyzon announced today that its transport coaches completed a 15,000-kilometer durability road test – a key tryout before one of the world’s largest iron-ore producers uses the vehicles in the remote Pilbara region.

Hyzon fuel cell coaches in Australia

Fortescue Metals Group has contracted for up to 10 of Hyzon’s custom-built coaches in the Christmas Creek mining hub, where summer temperatures commonly exceed 110 degrees. The endurance road test demonstrated the capability, effectiveness and strength of fuel cell stacks being discharged and recharged repetitively in harsh conditions, Hyzon states.

Fortescue expressed interest in Hyzon’s proprietary fuel cell technology using hydrogen gas – for which emissions are limited to water vapor – to replace a fleet of diesel vehicles for transporting workers around remote mining sites. The switch is an integral part of the resource company’s plans to reduce emissions, diversify its energy mix and become carbon neutral by 2030. The Hyzon coaches for Fortescue will mark the world’s first hydrogen-powered coach fleet.

Hyzon CEO Craig Knight said: “We applaud Fortescue Metals Group for its continued commitment to a zero-emission future and we look forward to playing a key role in its transition to hydrogen mobility. The Pilbara region, one of the most prolific mining areas of Australia and the world, is a harsh landscape. Our coaches can handle the rugged terrain, and hydrogen technology can serve as a viable alternative to traditional commercial mobility in even the toughest parts of the globe.”

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