The Port of Bilbao has hosted real-world testing of the H2TowTractor, a hydrogen-powered tow vehicle designed to decarbonise high-intensity logistics operations. The tractor uses a plug-and-play retrofit kit that can be installed on existing vehicles. This installation allows ports and industrial sites to transition to zero-emission operations without replacing entire fleets.
In this trial, the kit was fitted to an ATA E405AC tow tractor, meeting the high power and long-duty requirements of ports, airports, and similar environments. The system combines an optimized fuel cell with a lithium-ion buffer battery. This makes it adaptable to vehicles with similar specifications while reducing costs and easing regulatory compliance.
The H2TOW project is supported by EIT Urban Mobility and involves AESS, ATA TOW Tractors, Arco Technologies, CAAB, and the Basque Mobility and Logistics Cluster. The Port of Bilbao facilitated the trials, and Bunge Ibérica hosted the first demonstration. Renewable hydrogen was supplied by Petronor, while IBIL managed on-site refuelling.
Key objectives of H2TOW include increasing hydrogen adoption in industrial transport, and providing an easy-to-integrate retrofit kit. Also, the adoption lowers costs and regulatory barriers, and improves the perceived safety of hydrogen technology.
The H2TowTractor arrived at Bilbao on 10 November after its presentation at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona.
