SHFCA member ULEMCo, has delivered the world’s first dual-fuel Refuse Collection Vehicles which can be fully powered by hydrogen to Fife Council in Scotland. This is part of the ground-breaking Levenmouth Project at Methil, which will see a fleet of 17 hydrogen and dual fuel vehicles being deployed as part of the Levenmouth Project.

ULEMCo, the company championing the use of ultra-low emission hydrogen fuelled vehicles, carried out the conversion of the Refuse Collection Vehicles. These are two Heil Farid vehicles, with the Mercedes powertrain adapted to run on both hydrogen and diesel. The two Refuse Collection Vehicles are converted to run on dual hydrogen and diesel fuels, and will deliver reduced carbon emissions as well as improving air quality for the local community. The new bin lorries are planned for use in densely populated urban areas, where improving air quality is a huge concern.

The work is part of the Levenmouth Community Energy Project, funded by the Local Energy Challenge Fund which was launched in August 2014 by the Scottish Government. The Local Energy Challenge Fund supports large-scale low carbon demonstrator projects which show a local energy economy approach linking energy generation to energy use. This includes projects looking to develop innovative energy distribution and storage solutions that have an overall aim of creating more local value and benefit.

George Archibald, the Chief Executive of Bright Green Hydrogen, said: ‘As part of the partners’ vision for the project, Levenmouth will become home to one of Europe’s largest fleet of hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles and this includes the refuse collection vehicles. This is a sign of real progress especially when you consider that it was only three months ago that the project was kick started thanks to the award of Government funding.’

The Levenmouth Project will also see the conversion of five Ford Transit vans to hydrogen and diesel dual fuel, as well as ten Renault HyKangoo vans to Hybrid Electric and Hydrogen Fuel Cell operation. The project will run for five years until 2020 and is based at the Hydrogen Office, in a redeveloped part of Methil Docks in Fife.

Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, the specialists in hydrogen vehicle engineering added: ‘This is a global first for hydrogen vehicles and a really great example of the innovative approach that is needed to deliver the low carbon and low emission vehicles of the future.’

Fife's World First With Hydrogen Dual-Fuel Refuse Collection Vehicle in Methil