Johannesburg – Sasol, the integrated chemical and petrol company, has partnered with Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) to develop a pilot project for the development of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty long-haul trucks.
The hydrogen-powered heavy-duty long-haul trucks will be part of developing a mobility corridor, which will be expanded on the N3 between Durban and Joburg, the country’s main freight corridors.
According to the group, the pilot project was part of an ambitious plan to explore the development of a South African green hydrogen ecomobility system.
Sasol president and chief executive, Fleetwood Grobler, said one of the focus areas for Sasol in South Africa was to provide a comprehensive and sustainable mobility solution, and that hydrogen and electric vehicles with refuelling and charging infrastructure formed part of this sustainable future.
“We believe hydrogen mobility is a real opportunity for the country to decarbonise the sectors of long-haul and heavy-duty transport, mining and others and see the creation of hydrogen hubs, or ecosystems, as a practical and affordable way to scale the deployment of hydrogen in the transport sector,” said Grobler.
He also said the pilot project with TSAM would be a step towards South Africa’s decarbonisation. “If we do it well it can be an impetus for the South African automotive industry to manufacture that (trucks) locally, and if we can use green hydrogen in that application, those trucks will really be decarbonised.
“There are zero emissions out of fuel cell electric vehicles not like petrol cars or diesel cars which have emissions associated with them,” Grobler said.
