Wealthy entrepreneur siblings support the establishment of a new business focused on hydrogen-powered trucks.

Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS), a Glasgow-based company founded in 2017, is poised to disrupt the lorry industry with its zero-emission lorry running on hydrogen fuel cells. The company, which has received significant backing from EG Group, owned by the Issa brothers, aims to start production by 2026.

Under government mandates, all new Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) must be zero-emission by 2040. HVS's innovative design, featuring optimal distribution of fuel cells, high-pressure tanks, and cooling technology, is a promising solution to this impending mandate.

The Issa brothers, who also own Asda, have invested £30 million in HVS. This investment will not only supply lorries to Asda but also to other supermarket groups and delivery companies such as Amazon, DHL, UPS, and Fedex. HVS is currently in talks with these companies to secure partnerships.

The range of HVS's hydrogen lorry is approximately 350 miles, making it a viable option for long-haul deliveries. Refueling the hydrogen lorry takes about the same time as filling a diesel lorry's tank, another advantage over battery-electric lorries, which face challenges such as weight, limited range, long recharge times, and stress on the national power grid.

HVS is considering potential factory sites in the Midlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The company is also considering the city of Steyr as a potential site for a factory to produce hydrogen-powered trucks, with BMW Group already preparing production of hydrogen fuel cell systems there starting from 2028.

Jawad Khursheed, the rescuer of HVS, aims to avoid the mistakes of Arrival by not building production facilities in the UK. Instead, HVS is focusing on securing strategic partnerships and collaborations to ensure a smooth transition to mass production.

The lorry industry, including companies like Daimler, Volvo, Volkswagen-owned Scania, and Man, has been slow to embrace the transition to net zero. HVS's innovative approach could accelerate this transition, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from lorries, which account for 1.5% of vehicles on the road but more than 20% of carbon dioxide emissions across Europe.

To achieve widespread adoption and commercialization of hydrogen heavy lorries, the present cost of hydrogen fuel needs to be more than halved to a viable £5 per kg. HVS is working towards this goal, and with the support of the Issa brothers and other investors, it is well on its way to revolutionizing the lorry industry.

Wealthy entrepreneur siblings support the establishment of a new business focused on hydrogen-powered trucks.