Liebherr Electrical Compressor Certified by China Authorities
Liebherr’s Business Development Manager Willem de Grooth gives us insights about the certification of the PROME P390 fuel cell system, which features an integrated electrical compressor developed by Liebherr.
Willem de Grooth
Mr. de Grooth, can you share what the significance is of receiving this certification?
Obtaining China’s Compulsory Certification (CCC) is the first step in the development of PROME P390, since CCC is required for any product to be commercialized in China. CCC was first introduced in 2002, and it covers safety, product testing and factory audits — among many other standards required to obtain the certification. The authorities granted CCC with no expiration date as long as there are no changes in parameters.
What is PROME P390? And what is Liebherr’s role in its development?
PROME P390 is the name of the new-generation fuel cell system developed by Shanghai Hydrogen Propulsion Technology Co., Ltd., (SHPT). Liebherr is the supplier of PROME P390’s fuel cell compressor, which, together with the stack, is one of the most important elements of the fuel cell system.
Our end customer, SAIC motors, is using PROME P390 in the development of its fuel cell vehicle: the MAXUS FCV80, a wide-body, light passenger car.
In the past 20 years, SAIC has maintained a policy of only utilizing domestic supply-chain partners for core parts in the development of its vehicles with an independent development of stack technology. Today, they are leading China in the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with a market share of 53.42 percent.
Liebherr’s unwavering commitment to China is evidenced by the build-up of a brand-new assembly line in the region that will be responsible for the manufacturing of PROME P390’s fuel cell compressors. The new facility will be located in Shanghai, and production is set to start at the end of 2021. The facility is an integral part of our global strategy to further strengthen our presence in China.
Are there any other applications of the PROME P390?
SHPT is taking the lead on searching for more opportunities to leverage the PROME P390 fuel cell system along with SAIC motors. The system is already certified for use in SAIC YUEJIN, a series of light pickup trucks for commercial use.
What is the future of fuel cell technology?
The goal of the Chinese government is to produce one million fuel cell vehicles by 2030. But this technology moves incredibly fast. By 2030, fuel cells will be mature, and Liebherr will continue to work relentlessly to remain at the forefront of new developments in greener energy sources. Constantly looking forward to the next generation of clean energy initiatives is a priority when it comes to our long-term strategy.
