Komatsu: Developing a hydrogen fuel cell excavator!
ーEquipped with Toyota FC system and hydrogen tankー
Komatsu has developed a concept vehicle for a medium-sized hydraulic excavator equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell.
The 20-ton body is equipped with Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell system and multiple hydrogen tanks.
Demonstration test started at Oyama Factory (Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture).
In addition to this hydrogen fuel cell excavator, a 20-ton electric excavator was developed in October 2022.
Accelerate mass production to reduce carbon dioxide gas at construction machinery operation sites.
[Concept machine for a medium-sized hydraulic excavator equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell]
This hydrogen fuel cell excavator:
The operation time and body size of the concept car are not disclosed.
The 20-ton truck measures 9.5 meters wide, 2.8 meters wide, and 3.1 meters high.
Developed key components and control technology in-house to pursue “excavation performance and operability equivalent to engine-driven type”.
Current 20t class medium-sized hydraulic excavator
Advantages of hydrogen fuel cell excavators:
The main reason Komatsu is developing a hydrogen fuel cell excavator is that it can be charged with hydrogen fuel in a shorter time than LiB.
The current LiB lacks power to move large construction machinery.
If the number of batteries is increased to increase the output, it will take a long time to charge, and it cannot be used at construction sites.
Construction machines and mining machines that operate at sites deep in the mountains are required to operate continuously 24 hours a day.
(Newswitch)-Yahoo
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b778197b378adf6e228471b5ec27a0c94374179f
-The FC testbed installed at the research base in Hiratsuka City, and the one installed at the Oyama Plant is larger than this-
Accelerating to achieve safe, highly productive, smart and clean workplaces of the future-
Developed a concept machine for a medium-sized hydraulic excavator equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell, and began PoC tests.
For the new concept machine, Komatsu adopted a hydrogen fuel cell system and hydrogen tank, which were produced by Toyota Motor Corporation (Operating Officer, President: Koji Sato) (hereafter “Toyota”), on Komatsu’s medium-sized hydraulic excavator.
In addition to Komatsu’s comprehensive control technology, the combination of Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell system and Komatsu key components,
Komatsu is working toward zero exhaust emissions and a significant reduction in noise and vibration, while delivering the same powerful digging performance and high operability as engine-driven excavators.
Medium-sized and large construction equipment requires a power source with higher energy density than that of small construction equipment, which has led the move to electrification with batteries.
Because hydrogen has a higher energy density and can be refueled in a shorter time than recharging batteries, Komatsu has been advancing its R&D efforts as a promising electrification choice for medium-sized and large models.
To contribute to realizing a hydrogen society and carbon neutrality, Komatsu will continue its efforts toward the commercial production of medium-sized and large construction machinery equipped with hydrogen fuel cells by conducting PoC tests of this new concept machine.