Allison Transmission announced the availability of H₂ fuel cell and compressed natural gas (CNG) testing at its vehicle electrification and environmental test center.

As part of Allison’s goal to support the development and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles that reduce emissions, the company has completed the installation of two phases of H₂ capabilities. Phase one provides the ability to safely detect and manage H₂ gas or flames in the test cell. This same system is also capable of detection and management of CNG power plants. Phase two includes a low pressure, constant supply of H₂ directly fed into the vehicle’s fuel cell, providing extended test runs while minimizing downtime for re-fueling. These testing capabilities represent Allison’s commitment to innovation and taking a leadership role in the development of alternative fuel options for the commercial vehicle industry.

Allison recently collaborated with one of its OEM partners to successfully complete testing of the first H₂ fuel cell vehicle at the Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center. Additional OEMs are scoping fuel cell vehicle testing projects for later this year. The facility now has the capabilities to support external customer test and validation programs for vehicles powered by every major propulsion type, including diesel, gasoline, natural gas, battery electric and H₂ fuel cell.

The 60,000-square-foot facility is the only one of its kind in the Midwest, offering the ability to conduct year-round testing in one centralized location that can replicate the extreme environments to solidify dependable, reliable, repeatable, secure results. The capabilities of the facility move beyond powertrain innovation, enabling Allison and its partners to bring new, innovative, technology and vehicle systems to market faster and more efficiently.

“Manufacturers of electric vehicles, including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and electric hybrid systems are recognizing the value of reducing product development and validation timelines by utilizing Allison’s Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center to assess their vehicles in a controlled thermal environment capable of simulating a broad range of duty cycles,” said David Proctor, General Manager Allison Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Center. “We are excited to expand the facility’s capabilities to support our OEM partners as they develop and optimize alternative fuel offerings intended to reduce emissions.”