You must be wondering, what exactly is hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology, and what is so good about it?  Hydrogen fuel is a clean fuel that is burned along with oxygen in an electrochemical power generator to generate electricity, and in the process, produces water and heat as by-products. What sets hydrogen fuel apart, however, is the fact that it serves as an alternative to diesel fuel in more ways than one: its fuel-cycle emits no pollutive exhaust, and through renewable energy, there contains no trace of greenhouse gas emissions. Vehicles that are powered by the hydrogen fuel cell, thus, significantly reduce our use and dependence on diesel oil and lower the chances of harmful emissions contributing to climate change. What started out as an experiment among startup companies and early projects is now dominating the commercial vehicle industry with many of the industry’s biggest players putting in large investments in the technology. 

How Does it Work?

Hydrogen fuel can be produced through several methods, and in the commercial vehicle industry, fuel is processed in a fuel cell that is composed of three main components: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. This type of fuel cell is called a Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, or also known as a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which is mainly reserved for transport applications and stationary and portable fuel cell applications. The PEM fuel cell does its job by passing hydrogen through the anode, at which hydrogen molecules are split into electrons and protons. The former ones take the path of a circuit in the fuel cell to generate electric current and excess heat, while the protons go through the electrolyte membrane. At the same time, the PEM fuel cell passes oxygen from the surrounding air through the cathode on the other side, where the oxygen meets with the protons and electrons to produce water molecules. This does not get any simpler than your run-of-the-mill science experiment in school!

What Are Fuel Stacks Then?

What lies in the heart of a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is the fuel cell stack. Because fuel cells generate less than 1.16 volts of electricity each, they must be assembled atop one another to create a fuel cell stack in order to generate enough power to run a vehicle. The potential power that can be generated by a fuel cell stack largely varies and is dependent on the number and the size of the individual fuel cells of the fuel cell stack, as well as the surface area of the PEM. 

The Preferred Alternative

Hydrogen fuel cell has been proven to yield positive results for both the environment and the wallet in the long term. 

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Contrary to diesel fuel, which emits greenhouse gases (GHGs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) that are large contributors to climate change, the only by-products of vehicles–when fueled by pure hydrogen–are heat and water with the release of zero tailpipe GHGs. While it is possible for FCVs to still generate GHGs, depending on the production method, the GHGs emitted is still far less great than those emitted by gasoline and diesel fuel. FCVs also eliminate the maintenance costs that come with storing diesel fuel that may prove harmful later on. Many of the industry’s big players make use of environmentally benign hydrogen in their hydrogen fuel cell products to eliminate and prevent the harmful impact of fuel spillage or leaks and air pollution. 

Cutback on Vehicle Oil Dependence

Many companies have incorporated hydrogen fuel cells in their corporate sustainability programmes, and the industry is seeing a shift of focus from diesel fuel to environmentally friendly alternatives. With the industry soon to be saturated with FCVs, our dependence on foreign oil will be significantly reduced and eventually eradicated. Hydrogen can be extracted sustainably from domestic sources, such as natural gas and coal, as well as from renewable sources, such as water, biogas, and agricultural waste. From an economic perspective, this would allow us to be less affected by oil price hikes and drops in the volatile oil market. 

Lowering of Operational Costs

Hydrogen fuel cells require little to no maintenance as they eliminate the need to change, charge, and manage batteries, a maintenance check that is necessary for batteries, internal combustion generators, and the like. Hydrogen fuel cell units have a longer running time than do lead-acid batteries and, when power is running low, would not take more than five minutes to refuel. Companies that employ FCVs in their fleet benefit substantially from this as it reduces vehicle and personnel time, giving birth to a higher efficiency rate. This loss of regular maintenance saves not only money but labour, time, and the space for battery rooms as maintenance checks require optimal conditions. 

Increase in Energy Efficiency

 Hydrogen fuel cells are well known to be more energy-efficient than other forms of power. When a fuel cell vehicle is fueled by pure hydrogen, the hydrogen fuel cell has the potential to be up to 80-percent efficient. This means that the fuel cell converts up to 80 percent of the energy content of the hydrogen into electrical energy. The electric motor and inverter of the vehicle thus have the responsibility to convert that electrical energy into mechanical energy, with an average of 80 percent efficiency. Combined, this gives an overall 64-percent of increased efficiency when a vehicle is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell!

Increase in Durability and Reliability

Hydrogen fuel cells are notably more robust than other forms of fuel and can weather all types of conditions, from cold environments to harsh storms. This makes fuel cells a reliable asset to companies that engage commercial vehicles in tough environments. Additionally, because they do not have any moving parts, hydrogen fuel cells operate quietly even in the midst of a snowstorm! 

With environmentally friendly applications and time-consuming maintenance, we are beginning to see the boom of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the commercial vehicle industry, and with good reason! (MT)

(Credits / Sources: U.S Energy Information Administration, Hydrogenics, Toyota, Verdict Media, Stanford University, University of Nebraska, Fuel Economy, Plug Power) 

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Chinese-owned Swedish automotive major Volvo Cars has unveiled a new multi-adaptive safety belt, which it claims is a world-first technology aimed to further enhance safety for everyone in real-world traffic situations. The multi-adaptive safety belt is set to debut in Volvo EX60 in 2026, the company’s fully electric offering. It uses real-time data from the cars advanced sensors to adapt to traffic variations and the user wearing the seatbelt.

Based on the data input from interior and exterior sensors the seatbelt provides customised protection, adapting the setting based on the situation and individual’s profiles, such as their height, weight, body shape and seating position. For example, a larger occupant in a serious crash will receive a higher belt load setting to help reduce the risk of head injury. While a smaller occupant in a milder crash will receive a lower belt load setting to reduce the risk of rib fractures. Using over-the-air software updates, it gets better over time.

Asa Haglund, Head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre, said, “The world's first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone for automotive safety and a great example of how we leverage real-time data with the ambition to help save millions of more lives. This marks a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention introduced in 1959, estimated to have saved over a million lives.”

The Swedish carmaker stated that modern safety belts use load limiters to control how much force the safety belt applies on the human body during a crash. This new safety belt expands the load-limiting profiles from three to 11 and increases the possible number of settings, enabling it to optimise performance for each situation and individual. Unlike traditional systems, the new multi-adaptive safety belt can utilise data from different sensors, including exterior, interior and crash sensors. In less than a blink of an eye, the car’s system analyses the unique characteristics of a crash – such as direction, speed and passenger posture – and shares that information with the safety belt. Based on this data, the system selects the most appropriate setting.

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Carraro Group’s leadership – including Ettore Francesco Sequi, Chairman of Carraro India, and Tomaso Carraro, Vice Chairman of Carraro Group and Carraro India – had a meeting with Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Indian Ambassador to Italy Vani Sarraju Rao in Milan, Italy, underscoring the deepening industrial collaboration between Italy and India, particularly in the off-highway, agriculture and construction equipment sectors.

The discussions reaffirmed Carraro Group’s long-standing commitment to India, which began in 1997. Under the motto ‘Think & Make in India’, the company has focused on developing localised solutions for the Indian market, including advanced 4WD drivetrain systems that enhance agricultural productivity and farm mechanisation. These technologies play a crucial role in supporting food security by improving efficiency for farmers, enabling higher yields and addressing global demand for sustainable food production.

Carraro India has set an ambitious growth target, aiming to increase its turnover from the current EUR 200 million to EUR 350 million by the fiscal year 2028-29. To achieve this, the company plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Pune, reinforcing its production capabilities and strengthening its supply chain within India. This expansion aligns with India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, promoting local manufacturing and job creation while catering to both domestic and international markets.

The engagement highlights India’s growing appeal as a manufacturing and investment destination for European companies, particularly in the agricultural and construction machinery sectors. It also reflects the broader economic and technological partnership between India and Italy, fostering innovation, skill development and industrial growth.

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German automotive technology giant Continental has developed a new sensor technology that is said to significantly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of electric vehicle (EV) motors.

For the first time, their new e-Motor Rotor Temperature Sensor (eRTS) directly measures the temperature inside permanently excited synchronous motors on the rotor itself.

This innovative approach delivers substantially more precise measurement results than current software-based temperature simulations, drastically reducing the tolerance range from 15deg Celsius to a mere 3deg Celsius. The enhanced accuracy offers a dual benefit for vehicle manufacturers: it enables them to reduce the reliance on costly rare earth elements used to boost magnet heat resistance and simultaneously improve potential motor performance. This, in turn, paves the way for greater sustainability in EV production.

The eRTS is a key development from Continental's E-Mobility Sensors (EMS) product centre, which is dedicated to creating advanced sensor technologies for electric vehicles.

Bin Huo, Head of Passive Safety and Sensorics (PSS) segment, Continental, said, "With less resource consumption and lower costs, eRTS sensor technology is advantageous over current solutions. This innovation shows that investing resources and focusing expertise in our product centre was absolutely the right decision. We will continue to successively expand our EV sensor portfolio."

Higher Measuring Accuracy

The eRTS system comprises two distinct components: a wireless mote temperature sensor unit positioned close to the magnet within the EV motor and a wired transducer element situated outside the motor, connected to the inverter control.

Rotors operate under extreme conditions, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 150deg Celsius. Consequently, precise monitoring and control of heat development in EV motors are paramount. Presently, heat development is not measured directly but is instead calculated based on data from the stator temperature sensor, phase current measurements and environmental variables. This indirect method results in a tolerance range of up to 15deg Celsius. To safeguard magnets from demagnetisation due to excessive heat, expensive rare earth elements are typically used to cover this entire tolerance range and ensure sufficient heat resistance.

The significantly greater measuring accuracy of the eRTS, which reduces the tolerance range to just 3deg Celsius, presents car manufacturers with new design possibilities and freedom in permanent magnet synchronous EV motors.

A considerable proportion of costly rare earth materials, which would otherwise be required to account for the wider tolerance range for safety reasons, can now be saved. Furthermore, the improved accuracy offers the intriguing prospect of enhancing motor performance by pushing the operational limits closer to the actual temperature threshold.

Christoph Busch, Lead – Product Centre, Continental, said, "Our E-Mobility Sensors product centre aims to increase efficiency and sustainability in electric vehicles. The eRTS technology is a prime example of this: reducing the use of rare earths contributes to a more sustainable supply chain, especially given that the number of EVs is expected to greatly increase in the coming years and decades. In combination with other sensor technologies, such as the e-Motor Rotor Position Sensor, it can even act as a system solution to create synergies that can save car manufacturers money and effort."

Ultrasound Technology

The eRTS's two components, the mote element and the transducer element, work in tandem. The mote temperature sensor unit measures the temperature directly at the target area, as close as possible to the magnet. Crucially, the wireless mote draws its energy solely from the wired transducer, which is connected to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and simultaneously provides the transducer with its measuring data. The transducer is located outside the EV motor on the chassis and transmits temperature information to the inverter control via a communication interface. Both the mote and transducer communicate using Piezo ultrasound, which also facilitates the energy supply to the mote.

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In a landmark development for artificial intelligence and global technological partnerships, G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank Group and Cisco have joined forces to launch Stargate UAE, a next-generation AI infrastructure cluster set to operate in Abu Dhabi.

The announcement, made in the presence of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlighted UAE’s commitment to driving cutting-edge innovation on the world stage.

The launch event witnessed the attendance of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Defence and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence Council, alongside prominent dignitaries and senior officials.

Stargate UAE, a 1-gigawatt compute cluster, will be constructed by G42 and operated by OpenAI and Oracle. NVIDIA will provide its cutting-edge Grace Blackwell GB300 systems, while Cisco contributes AI-ready connectivity and zero-trust security frameworks. SoftBank Group will also play a crucial role in the initiative. Once operational, Stargate UAE will deliver exceptional AI infrastructure, scalable compute resources, and ultra-low latency for inferencing, enabling powerful AI applications across industries. The first 200-megawatt cluster is slated to go live in 2026.

Designed to fuel scientific discovery, industry innovation and economic growth, Stargate UAE will support sectors including healthcare, energy, finance and transportation. It forms the cornerstone of the newly announced UAE–US AI Campus, a 5-gigawatt AI hub spanning 10 square miles in Abu Dhabi – the largest deployment of its kind outside the United States. Powered by a combination of nuclear, solar and natural gas sources, the facility will prioritise sustainability and low-carbon operations. It will also feature a science park to nurture talent, advance research, and promote sustainable computing solutions.

The UAE–US AI Campus builds upon the ‘US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership’, a framework unveiled last week by the U.S. and UAE governments to foster safe, secure and responsible AI technologies. As part of this initiative, UAE entities will expand their digital infrastructure investments in the U.S., including projects like Stargate U.S., aligned with the ‘America First Investment Policy.’

Peng Xiao, Group CEO, G42, said, “The launch of Stargate UAE is a significant step in the UAE–US AI partnership. As a founding partner, we’re proud to work alongside institutions that share our belief in responsible innovation and meaningful global progress. This initiative is about building a bridge – rooted in trust and ambition – that helps bring the benefits of AI to economies, societies, and people around the world.”

Sam Altman, Co-founder and CEO, OpenAI, said, “By establishing the world’s first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE, we’re transforming a bold vision into reality. This is the first major milestone in our OpenAI for Countries initiative – our effort to work with allies and partners to build AI infrastructure around the world. It’s a step toward ensuring some of this era’s most important breakthroughs – safer medicines, personalised learning, and modernised energy – can emerge from more places and benefit the world.”

Larry Ellison, CTO and Chairman, Oracle, said, “Stargate pairs Oracle’s AI-optimised cloud with nation-scale sovereign infrastructure. This first-in-the-world platform will enable every UAE government agency and commercial institution to connect their data to the world’s most advanced AI models. This landmark deployment sets a new standard for digital sovereignty and demonstrates how nation states can harness the power of the most important technology in the history of humankind.”

Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO, NVIDIA, said, “AI is the most transformative force of our time. With Stargate UAE, we are building the AI infrastructure to power the country’s bold vision – to empower its people, grow its economy, and shape its future.”

Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO, SoftBank Group, said, “When we unveiled Stargate in the US with OpenAI and Oracle, we set out to build an engine for the next information revolution. Now, the UAE becomes the first nation beyond America to embrace this sovereign AI platform, proving the global nature of this vision. SoftBank is proud to support the UAE’s leap forward. Bold investments, trusted partnerships, and national ambition can create a more connected, more joyful and more empowered world.”

Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO, Cisco, said, “Cisco is proud to join Stargate UAE to advance groundbreaking AI innovation in the UAE and around the world. By embedding our secure AI-optimised networking fabric for this international deployment, we're building smart, secure and energy-efficient networks that will turn intelligence into impact at global scale.”

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