Mahle Powertrain Begins Testing Project Cavendish to Boost Hydrogen in Heavy Trucks

Key Highlights:

• Mahle Powertrain tests Project Cavendish to boost hydrogen use in heavy-duty truck engines.
• The project has £9.8 million UK government funding.
• Hydrogen engines are ideal for long-distance trucks, per Mahle’s Head of Research.
• The UK pledged over £8 billion for hydrogen and carbon capture development.
• Mahle’s upgraded facility ensures steady hydrogen supply and high-power testing.

Mahle Powertrain has begun testing a new project to boost hydrogen fuel use in heavy-duty truck engines. Project Cavendish, funded with £9.8 million (Rs 100 crore) by the UK government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC). The aim of the project is to create fast-to-market solutions for using hydrogen with platforms and infrastructure. As a result, it will improve the decarbonisation of the haulage sector.

This will speed up the shift to hydrogen-powered trucks. The project uses Mahle Powertrain’s advanced testing facility in Northampton and the company’s expertise with fuels like hydrogen and methanol.

EU’s revised CO2 standards 

The EU has updated its CO2 standards for heavy-duty trucks under its “Fit for 55” plan. These new rules demand a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, increasing to 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2040. This stricter timeline now covers more types of vehicles and presents a big challenge for manufacturers.

Leadership Insights

Jonathan Hall, Head of Research and Advanced Engineering at Mahle Powertrain, said hydrogen combustion engines are ideal for long-distance, heavy-duty vehicles that are difficult to electrify. He added that Mahle’s facilities are set up for hydrogen testing, with a dedicated fuel supply, safety systems, and high-power testing equipment designed for this project.

To support hydrogen development, the UK Government has committed £8.3 billion (Rs 8,460 crore) through Great British Energy and up to £21.7 billion (Rs 221,188 crore) for the carbon capture industry. This investment will help develop large infrastructure projects and support hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles. Hydrogen use is expected to expand beyond road transport to include rail, aviation, and maritime industries.

Project Cavendish employs the expertise of a number of partners, including PHINIA, BorgWarner, Cambustion, Hartridge, and Mahle Powertrain, to create novel fuel-injection systems and supporting turbocharging technology that will be ready for high-volume production in time to meet EU VII/US 27 legislation.

Mahle Powertrain's substantially expanded Northampton facility can accommodate two tube-trailers on-site, with quick switching between them to assure a near-constant supply of hydrogen. Upgraded engine dynamometers with a nominal capacity of 900 kilowatts (kW) / 4,000 Newton meters (Nm) can meet critical heavy-duty requirements, while in-house control systems and software ensure safety.

Also Read: Ashok Leyland to Boost Electric Unit with ₹500 Crore Investment

CMV360 Says

This information shows that companies and the government are working hard to use hydrogen as fuel for heavy-duty trucks. Mahle Powertrain is finding ways to use hydrogen with current engines, which could make the switch from diesel easier. The UK is also investing a lot in hydrogen technology, which shows it could be game changer in the future.