ULEMCo, the company pioneering the adoption of ultra-low emission hydrogen fuel in the UK, has worked with partners JCB and Bucher Municipal on an innovative route to replacing carbon-based fuel.
It has produced a new road sweeper for Aberdeen City Council that demonstrates the ability to use hydrogen fuel in both the primary engine and the auxiliary engine powering the ancillary equipment. 
The project for Aberdeen has involved ULEMCo converting a Bucher Municipal (previously Johnston Sweepers) road sweeper to operate on dual fuel.
It includes a route to incorporating 6.6kg of on-board hydrogen storage capacity, more than four times that of previous trucks, and enables a second engine – provided by JCB – to power the sweeper’s brushes etc. using hydrogen fuel.
Finding cost-effective solutions to decarbonising power take-off – such as with mobile equipment in construction and specialist vehicle applications – is important to delivering net zero carbon by 2050.
As in this case, the approach will enable displacement rates of up to 40% of diesel fuel, and make a significant contribution to CO2 savings and reduced city pollution in real world applications.
This is the third hydrogen road sweeper that will be deployed in Aberdeen, facilitated by the Council in partnership between the two globally leading UK OEMs in JCB and Bucher and Liverpool based SME ULEMCo. The work builds on the previous project supported by OLEV and Innovate within the Low Emission Freight Trial.
“It provides an immediate solution for significant carbon emission reduction in this type of heavy duty vehicle application that would be unaffordable or impractical with other low carbon technologies”
Amanda Lyne, Managing Director, ULEMCo
“This project is a powerful example of how companies can work together to deliver solutions that are available now, to help mitigate climate change through the use of hydrogen”, says Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo.
“It provides an immediate solution for significant carbon emission reduction in this type of heavy duty vehicle application that would be unaffordable or impractical with other low carbon technologies.
“We were really pleased to have the opportunity to work with both Bucher and JCB to deliver an improved product for ACC’s fleet team.”
“The significance of hydrogen fuel as an important alternative to carbon based fuels is increasingly clear”, said Daniel Jackson, OEM Engine Sales and Applications Manager at JCB Power Systems.
“We are delighted to support this initiative which will make an immediate contribution to improving air quality in Glasgow.”
“Deploying dual fuel conversions in ‘back to base’ utility vehicle applications like this allows us to offer our customers around the globe an immediate and highly practical option to reducing their emissions,” said Graham Howlett, UK General Manager at Bucher Municipal.
About ULEMCo
ULEMCo Ltd is the world’s first hydrogen commercial vehicle conversion company, enabling fleet, commercial and niche vehicle owners to have access to zero emission hydrogen fuel, as part of their strategies to reduce transport related carbon emissions.
ULEMCo is based in Liverpool, UK and was founded in 2014 as a spin out of Revolve Technologies, to commercialise intellectual property and capability in hydrogen combustion engine technology.
The company converts vehicles, having started with diesel Ford Transit vans, to enable them to run on commercially available hydrogen. The technology allows vehicle fleet managers to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions to ultra-low levels.
Commercial fleets across the UK benefit from a reduced carbon foot print while still having the full range capability of standard diesel vehicles. Alongside various partners, ULEMCo already supports a fleet of vehicles across a range of hydrogen hubs in the UK.
The company is targeting commercial fleet conversions to grow the market significantly over the next 18 months, and then expand into other vehicle types over the longer term. Its growth plans include creating a hydrogen re-fuelling network to capitalise on the existing local infrastructure for this ‘green’ fuel.
About JCB
JCB is one of the world’s top three manufacturers of construction equipment. A family owned company, it employs around 12,000 people on four continents and sells its products in 150 countries through 2,000 dealer depot locations. It has consistently invested in research and development, and aims to operate at the cutting edge of innovation.
Today, JCB has some of the finest engineering facilities across the globe, produces a range of over 300 machines and maintains a reputation for unrivalled customer service.
About Bucher Municipal
Bucher Municipal is a leading supplier of vehicles and equipment for cleaning and clearing operations on public and private roads and other traffic areas. Its machinery range encompasses sweepers and sewer cleaning, winter maintenance and refuse collection vehicles and equipment. The product portfolio is supplemented by digital services.
The division has production facilities in Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Denmark, Latvia, Russia, Australia, China and South Korea.
Bucher Municipal employs 2370 people globally across 19 sites and five continents. Total revenue in 2019 was CHF 541 million (£460 million).
https://www.buchermunicipal.com
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