The first hydrogen-powered pickup truck is set to hit the market. The Warrego shares its DNA with the Ford Ranger, although the US manufacturer isn't involved in the project. Instead, Australian firm H2X Global has designed and built the pickup for the global market.
With the backing of Liberty Capital, the Warrego prototype is currently undergoing final validation and verification in the Netherlands, a step towards gaining European certification. Australian certification testing will commence soon.
For the first release of the new vehicle, H2X will target Europe, as the region has a more comprehensive network of hydrogen stations than most. Government support to develop the hydrogen economy is also in place in many European countries, ensuring long-term viability.
Originally intended to launch in Australia in April 2002, the Warrego has been delayed significantly by the same supply chain issues that are dogging the automotive industry.
H2X Global CEO and founder, Brendan Norman, commented:
“Supply chain issues, which have negatively impacted manufacturing companies worldwide, put us about nine months behind schedule; however, our production and engineering teams have done an amazing job to overcome these problems, and we are now back on schedule. It is extremely satisfying that our team now have the Warrego running through the final stages of its engineering, safety and on-road verification program and production readiness."
The Warrego is also H2X Global’s first presentation of its new platform, which will be used as a basis for the upcoming Darling delivery van. The van will be the first fully developed and optimised in-house by H2X.
Brendan Norman added:
"The Warrego is essentially a demonstration vehicle which we can offer to several customers to accelerate the availability of an AWD light commercial vehicles to customers, using a state-of-the-art Hybrid Hydrogen Fuel Cell System.”
In its pickup guise, the Warrego features a full version of the H2X powertrain developed for light vehicles, featuring a supercapacitor-based hybrid system. A 60kW fuel cell connected to a hybrid battery/supercapacitor electric drive system is fuelled by a hydrogen tank system.
The hydrogen will be stored at a pressure of 350 bar for everyday use. However, thanks to advanced polymer and carbon fibre construction, the pressure can be doubled to 700 bar, extending the range per tank.
H2X Global says, slightly vaguely, that the Warrego will be available to customers over “the coming months” and in line with the availability of hydrogen. To be produced in Sale, Australia, and Europe, pricing details for the Warrego are yet to be confirmed, but it’s understood that H2X is targeting a price tag of around 200,000 Australian dollars, or about £120,000.
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