Air Products to convert 2,000-strong fleet to hydrogen after milestone deal with Cummins

Gas supplier Air Products and Cummins have announced a partnership to accelerate the integration of hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Cummins will provide the fuel cell electric powertrains integrated into OEM partners’ HGVs for Air Products, which plans to convert its 2,000-strong global fleet of lorries to run on the natural gas.

The two companies said they expect the demonstration phase to begin in 2022.

Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products’ chief executive, chairman and president, said: “We believe hydrogen is the future for heavy duty segments of the transportation market and we can demonstrate to the world its merits by being a first-mover in transitioning our heavy-duty fleet of trucks to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.”

Cummins said hydrogen was becoming an important technology for sustainable transportation:

“This is another turning point for hydrogen and the energy transition,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and chief executive at Cummins.

“As we develop the technologies of tomorrow, we need the partnership of others to be successful, and this partnership with Air Products is the next step in leading the industry on the path to a zero-emissions future.”

Air Products holds restricted licences across the UK authorising more than 300 lorries.