H2Rescue hydrogen truck drives record 2910 km on one tank stop

The H2Rescue, a hydrogen fuel cell truck made for disaster relief by Cummins’ subsidiary Accelera, has set a new Guinness World Record for distance driven by a hydrogen truck without refueling, driving 1,806 miles or 2,910 km across California.

A Guinness World Records adjudicator validated the entire trip. When the 175-kg hydrogen tank was unsealed, it appeared that only 168 kg was used, meaning the H2Rescue could’ve driven some 120 km further before finally running out of fuel.

“This world record is a triumph for interagency collaboration and proof that hydrogen is a viable alternative fuel for vehicles. Hydrogen can improve our Nation’s energy security and reliability,” says Nicholas Josefik, Industrial Engineer at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

With this publicity stunt, Accelera hopes to promote the potential of hydrogen for clean transportation and portable emergency power. The H2Rescue’s main design goal was not to set distance records but rather to provide areas stricken by (natural) disasters with clean power for a long time.

The hydrogen fuel cell on board the 15-tonne truck not only provides energy for the 250 kW (340 hp) traction motor but also acts as a generator to supply 25 kW of external power for up to 72 hours thanks to lithium-ion buffer batteries. Another advantage compared to diesel or gasoline-powered generators is the lack of noise.

Collaboration between multiple US government departments and Cummins

The prototype, based on a Kenworth T370, was first shown in June 2023 and has been created from a partnership between the US Department of Homeland Security’s  Science and Technology Directorate, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and Cummins, known chiefly for its diesel engines.

The H2Rescue boasts fuel cells with an energy efficiency of 80% and emits, just like any hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV), only heat and water vapor while in operation. In this 1,806-mile (2,906-km) trip alone, the H2Rescue saved over 300 kg of CO2 emissions (providing the hydrogen was generated using green energy).