We go by ferry: the first all-terrain vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel has been tested in Russia

Sea trials of our country's first all-terrain vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel have begun at a test site near Moscow. The Rusak is capable of traveling up to 500 km without refueling and can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h with eight passengers and a load of up to 2.5 tons. The machine exists in a single copy and is designed to develop technology that allows you to obtain energy practically without harm to nature. Her only waste will be ordinary water. The initial serial commercial project may be a giant mining dump truck, which will use prototype-proven principles. Izvestia was among the first to test a promising transport and found out how they plan to provide it with gas.

Russia's first hydrogen-powered all-terrain vehicle

An impressive van, painted in a spectacular blue color, stands above the paved area of the Moscow training ground. Four pairs of giant wheels, just below human height, give the impression that the car can easily overcome any road. A powerful stream of smoke escapes from under the bottom of the monster truck, but there is no smell of exhaust gases - this is ordinary water vapor.

On October 31, journalists were shown the first Russian hydrogen all-terrain vehicle Rusak in action. The prototype exists in a single copy, is capable of traveling up to 500 km without refueling and can reach speeds of up to 60 km/ h with eight passengers and a load of up to 2.5 tons. The main feature of the development is a unique power plant that generates electricity by processing hydrogen fuel.

— We are at the hydrogen transport sea trials site to test our all-terrain vehicle. This is not a mass-produced product. It was created to develop technologies for a gas-fueled dump truck on a 1 to 10 scale. This is, in fact, an engineering stand for verifying their autonomy, power systems and control systems. We are training on it what we will show in a year with large—scale mining equipment," said Yuri Vasiliev, General Director of the MIPT/RT-RB Autonomous Power Engineering Center.

Hydrogen energy is now actively developing all over the world. This is the most environmentally friendly technology, since only electricity and water are released during gas processing. The key advantage of hydrogen engines compared to motors powered by electric batteries is their higher energy consumption. The balloon is much more compact than a battery and allows you to transport more cargo over long distances. This type of fuel is used where a lot of energy is required. There are projects for hydrogen trains and large transport ships. That is why such a power plant was chosen for a promising mining dump truck, which will be produced by BelAZ. The use of the machine should begin as early as 2027.

— Testing an all-terrain vehicle at this test site is of particular value to us, so we can work out technical solutions in one place in practice, which will then be applied in a hydrogen dump truck. And also to test all the infrastructure that is necessary to provide this machine with fuel," said Fyodor Kulikovsky, Director of the mining portfolio at RT—Business Development.

Inside the ROVER, there is a good view through the windshield, comfortable seats, several screens for rear—view cameras, a very ordinary steering wheel and a digital radio.

— To become a driver of a hydrogen all-terrain vehicle, you need to be able to work with fuel cells. It feels like driving a very large SUV. The car is well controlled, but the turning radius is very large. The wheels are simply gigantic and have high cross-country capability. There are two electric motors. The maximum speed is 60 km/h, but for safety reasons we have limited it so far. Anyone who knows how to drive an ordinary car can handle an all—terrain vehicle," said Vladimir Zinoviev, the driver of the car.

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Hydrogen refueling

About a dozen gas cylinders for refueling are stored near the ROVER. They are filled with hydrogen at another landfill in the neighborhood. The gas is highly volatile and highly flammable. Fuel production and storage technologies are being tested at the stands. There are many nuances that still complicate the introduction of an environmentally friendly energy source. For example, it must be transported at a temperature of – 252 degrees. And if the temperature drops, then the pressure rises, and in order for the cylinder not to burst, the gas simply has to be released into the air. Although the hydrogen refueling gun is very similar to a regular gasoline one.

— We pump gas into the all-terrain vehicle through the refueling gun. The fuel goes under pressure. There are some special features, unlike a gas station. The gas is pumped at a pressure of 350 Bar. The second gun operates at twice the pressure. The mining dump truck will be refueled to capacity in 15-20 minutes. And a passenger car can be refueled in 5-7 minutes," said Yuri Vasiliev.

A hydrogen thermal installation used for space heating is located in a separate container at the landfill. Nearby there are containers with powder, providing safe storage of gas without pressure. The fuel itself is obtained directly on site by processing ordinary tap water: approximately one cubic meter of gas is obtained from 1 liter of liquid. Before that, the water is thoroughly cleaned of impurities — without salts, the liquid does not conduct electricity, and gas is safely released from it by electrolysis. According to experts, the technology is simple, and the process can be demonstrated even in a glass of water.

"The electrolysis process is quite simple, and it can be reproduced even at home," said Vladislav Karasevich, Director of Science at the MIPT/RT—RB Autonomous Power Engineering Center. — You can put electrodes from a pencil lead connected to a battery in a glass of water, and bubbles will appear. Our installation uses the same principle.

If it is necessary to raise a repeater or antenna to a significant height at the landfill, use balloons filled with hydrogen instead of poles. This gas is lighter than air and safer than helium.

According to experts, hydrogen is a universal fuel, and it is quite possible that in the near future it will be used not only by dump trucks, but also by electric scooters.