Cellcentric has brought its new BZA375 fuel cell system to market. The specialist in heavy-duty fuel cell systems presented the solution, previously developed under the project name “NextGen,” at an event held during Hannover Messe. According to the company, the system is now available for testing, validation and industrial scaling. Cellcentric positions itself as an independent Tier-1 supplier and is open to partnerships with OEMs.
The BZA375 was developed in less than three years. According to the company, development centred on optimising total cost of ownership. The system is intended to compete with modern diesel engines in demanding applications.
Performance Data and Comparison with the Previous Model
The BZA375 delivers up to 375 kW of continuous net power, equivalent to more than 500 hp, from a single-system package and weighs less than 500 kilograms. Compared with its predecessor, the BZA150, the new system consumes 20 percent less fuel, according to Cellcentric. As a result, a fully loaded 40-tonne truck can operate under real-world driving conditions on less than 6 kilograms of hydrogen per 100 kilometres.
At 300 kW net power, waste heat is reduced by 40 percent compared with the previous model, which is expected to enable more compact cooling systems. Power density rises by 40 percent. The system is designed to fit installation spaces originally developed for 13-litre diesel engines. Complexity has also been cut by 40 percent through a reduction in components and interfaces, eliminating the previous “twin-system” approach for heavy-duty trucks. The company states a service life of 25,000 hours, which corresponds to around 10 years in a heavy-duty truck.
Prototype Production Underway, Series Production by the End of the Decade
Prototype production of the BZA375 is already underway. Initial prototypes are available to customers for their own testing and validation activities. According to Cellcentric, series production is scheduled to begin by the end of the decade.
“BZA375 is specifically tailored to the requirements of long-haul trucks and is also ideally suited to other applications with comparable demands,” says Nicholas Loughlan, CTO of Cellcentric. “At Cellcentric, we have deliberately positioned ourselves as an independent Tier-1 supplier and are open to partnerships with all OEMs that are advancing the decarbonisation of their product portfolios.”
Deployment Planned Beyond Trucks
According to the company, Cellcentric is pursuing a single-product strategy with the BZA375. In addition to long-haul trucks, the system is intended for use in coaches, stationary power generation, rail transport and mining. This, the company says, will create economies of scale and open up potential for further cost reductions.
