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Revolution in der Arbeitswelt: Wasserstoff-Verbrennungsmotoren von Unimog und Raupe im Praxistest
Unimog Meets Caterpillar: From Hydrogen Project to Work Deployment
Completion of two hydrogen combustion engine development…
Driving and working without emissions is the aim in the journey towards carbon neutrality. Not only fully electric vehicles can assist in this, but also other alternative propulsion methods. A two-year-long project, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, has now reached its conclusion.
Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks and Mörtlbauer unveiled their pair comprising a Unimog and a crawler. Both prototype vehicles are equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine. They can already be seen actively being used.
Photo Gallery: Unimog Meets Caterpillar: Successful Development Project for Hydrogen Combustion Engine
"After numerous field tests, exhaust measurements, and technical tweaks, we are confident that hydrogen combustion is a viable, practical, and low-emission solution for heavy-duty machinery requiring high power for both mobility and auxiliary drives," states Franziska Cusumano, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks.
The Unimog equipment carrier has been undergoing various trials with this drive system for over a year, while the articulated dump truck crawler has been operational in initial application-specific tests since the spring of 2024. The Unimog brought the crawler to the presentation on a low-loader. Recently, a brief demonstration run using the equipment was conducted at the Mörtlbauer factory premises, where the refueling process was also showcased to the public.
Unimog Meets Caterpillar: Successful Development Project for Hydrogen Combustion Engine
With minor modifications, the hydrogen combustion engine can be utilized similarly to current diesel engines. Both models are propelled by a medium-duty engine that engineers have converted to run on hydrogen. Only adapted pistons, a hydrogen-compatible fuel system, and an enhanced ignition system were needed for this conversion. The water produced during combustion is expelled into the atmosphere through the exhaust system.
The Unimog is equipped with four high-pressure tanks, each rated at 700 bar, allowing it to store approximately 13 kilograms of hydrogen gas. Its power output reaches around 290 hydrogen horsepower, with a torque of 1000 Newton-meters, roughly on par with a 300-horsepower diesel model. It must be capable of operating all auxiliary equipment without any issues. The dumper crawler can hold 14.5 kilograms of hydrogen at the same 700 bar pressure. This heavy-duty machine can handle up to 16 cubic meters of material, with a total weight capacity of 30 tons.
Additional Unimogs serving various operational purposes:
"The capability of our caterpillar and the Unimog from Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks to be seamlessly fueled with hydrogen gas and their reliable performance during equipment operations are the fruits of exceptional collaborative efforts within the research consortium," states Armin Mörtlbauer, managing director of Mörtlbauer Baumaschinen Vertriebs GmbH. He adds, "To implement these in a series production, we still have some distance to cover. Should the political and societal decision-makers pivot towards hydrogen combustion engines, we are ready to spring into action."
The two vehicle prototypes demonstrate the potential for low-emission driving and operation without sacrificing consistent engine performance, existing alongside purely electric vehicles in the future. The development project for hydrogen combustion engines, known as WaVe, commenced in July 2021 with the collaboration of 18 partners from industry and academia.
Source: Daimler Truck Corporation
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