LTB 407/20 – National Terms of Reference for the Deployment of a Hydrogen Powered Van Trial

No. 407/20
31st July 2020

Dear Colleagues,

National Terms of Reference for the Deployment of a Hydrogen Powered Van Trial

Branches will be aware of the trial of a CNG Iveco Van and the trial of gas powered motive unit at the Chorley Vehicle Operating Centre, both of which are trialling alternative fuels as oppose to the various number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) on trial in deliveries.

Branches will wish to note that Aberdeen City Council has approached Royal Mail to trial a hydrogen powered commercial vehicle to use in the Altens Delivery Office, Aberdeen, free of charge. Hydrogen is high quality energy and is used to power fuel cell vehicles. Fossil fuels which mainly include petroleum and coal provide for the major extent of energy needs around the globe today. Hydrogen however readily combines with other molecules. The most common way to liberate hydrogen is to use heat and catalysts to reform hydrocarbons. Hydrogen fuelled vehicles emit no greenhouse gases or other pollutants, as during combustion, hydrogen only produces water vapour thus reducing the release of harmful gasses such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, as described in the above mentioned PE documents.

The vehicle to be deployed is a Euro 6 Ford Transit L3 H3 converted to run on hydrogen, which uses blends of hydrogen and diesel for performance and emissions reduction. The range of the hydrogen converted vehicle whilst running on hydrogen is dependent on the specific duty cycle but estimated to be 120 miles.

The Project is a result of the Council’s role within the EU funded ‘Civitas PORTIS’ project which looks at sets of sustainable mobility measures in port cities to improve the attractiveness of the urban environment. The Council is committed to Aberdeen becoming a more sustainable, low carbon city. The Council want to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles, particularly hydrogen vehicles, within the private sector as this is part of their solution to improving the city’s air quality, cutting carbon emissions which will have the associated health benefits. The Council also want to continue to lead on hydrogen technology. With Royal Mail participating in the project, the intention will be to promote the involvement and willingness by the private sector to trial hydrogen vehicles.

Cross departmental discussions have therefore taken place in relation to an agreement to enable the activity to take place. The CWU will be fully involved in all aspects of the trial locally, to help promote the benefits and purpose of the trial. The trial will be jointly overseen and monitored by RM Fleet Innovation and Environment Manager, who will provide periodic reports to the CWU both locally and nationally.

The trial activity will be the subject of a joint review six months after the commencement of the trial and periodically thereafter, as agreed by the Royal Mail Fleet Operational Specification Group (RMFOS). Local Managers and CWU representatives and drivers involved in the trial will also feed into this process.

The attached visuals indicate the vehicle to be deployed in the trial which will be wrapped in red and will also be branded with the cruciform as well as a reference to hydrogen. Branding has yet to sign off the final livery