These hydrogen storage tanks will be produced at the Hexagon Purus facility in Westminster, Maryland and will be used in Gillig’s new fuel cell-powered transit buses.

There was plenty to report from the 2024 edition of the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo held at the Las Vegas Convention Center between May 20-23.

Initially set to be released in the U.S. market, the class 8 battery-electric RC8 truck is set to go into series production in Q4 2024, at Hexagon’s new 200,000-square-foot facility in Dallas, Texas. Tern trucks will be available through the Hino dealer network across the U.S.

Hexagon Purus is set to supply hydrogen storage and battery packs to Toyota Motor North America for the series production of its heavy-duty fuel cell powertrains. These HFC powertrains will be manufactured at the Toyota facility in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Hexagon has supplied Ford Trucks with a complete hydrogen fuel storage system for the development of a fuel-cell electric-powered truck (F-Max FCEV) prototype. As a partner in the project, Ford Trucks will develop and deliver the F-Max FCEV, which will operate as part of a larger fleet of zero-emission trucks collecting data from around Europe.

The strategic investors include Mitsui, Hy24, and Hexagon Composites. This will help fund upcoming investments, including expanding its hydrogen fuel storage tank factory in Weeze, Germany.

The expansion project for hydrogen fuel storage tanks is set to take place in three phases. The first phase, which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year, will see a new 5,000 m2 production hall, bringing the overall production area to 16,000 m2.

Hexagon will supply batteries, battery systems and the integration into DTNA’s battery electric Freightliner eM2 vocational trucks. Furthermore, the agreement encompasses power modules and power-take-off (PTO) technology.

Beginning in 2024, the company will integrate its batteries, battery software and auxiliary modules into the unnamed North American OEM’s electric vocational trucks.

Employing 250 skilled workers, the centrally located facility will support the efficient production and distribution of complete BEV heavy-duty trucks for the North American market.

The prototype is based on the Hino ‘XL’ 4x2 configuration, but fitted with a powertrain assembled by Hexagon Purus, including its proprietary battery systems, auxiliary modules, power modules, and control software.

Hexagon Purus says the 60,000-square-foot facility will have an annual production capacity exceeding 1,000 battery systems and will employ up to 150 engineers and assembly technicians.