Walkinshaw Automotive Group and Countrywide Hydrogen will partner to provide hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) trucks in Australia.
Both have agreed to review and consider the development of hydrogen-based truck and prime movers for the Australian market.
Countrywide Hydrogen aims to have its first hydrogen production in the first half of 2025 in Tasmania.
The availability of FCEV trucks in Australia from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), preferred by road transport operators and financiers, is low or missing with most going to left-hand drive markets in Europe and North America, meaning no right-hand drive trucks are available in any quantity for Australia.
Countrywide and Walkinshaw say they want to cater to this Australian market opportunity.
The two parties will explore the importation of left-hand drive fuel cell trucks to then convert them to right-hand drive. Walkinshaw is delivering 70 such conversions daily with RAM and Silverado in the 4WD ute category, working directly with multiple OEMs.
Another option will be securing truck bodies without an engine or drive train to be fitted out with the commercially available Toyota fuel cell and electric drive train.
“This partnership with Walkinshaw will help to fast track the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell trucks across Australia, and follows our agreement to supply green hydrogen trucks to 7R Logistics to transition their Tasmanian fleet from diesel to zero-emission fuel cell trucks,” says Countrywide managing director Geoffrey Drucker.
He says the project has an added benefit to the Australian economy as it complements the Federal Government’s goal to rebuild the nation’s manufacturing, especially where there is a positive clean energy impact.
Walkinshaw Group managing director Joel Stoddart says the collaboration could see the FCEV truck opportunity extended to other right-hand drive markets such as New Zealand and South Africa.
Countrywide Hydrogen is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX-listed company ReNu Energy Limited and develops renewable hydrogen projects in Australia and abroad where offtake opportunities and abundant renewable energy sources prevail.
The company has four projects under development in Australia and one in Southeast Asia
Victoria-headquartered Walkinshaw Group’s broad range of businesses include manufacturing and engineering partnerships, Walkinshaw Performance, Walkinshaw Sports and the Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars Team.
Walkinshaw also provides consulting, engineering and design services to a diverse range of industry participants, and it produces more than 12,000 vehicles annually and employs at least 1200 people.
