Melbourne will soon be home to Australia’s first purpose-built assembly plant for hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. 

United States-based Hyzon Motors and the RACV are expanding Hyzon’s Australian manufacturing operations into a 10,000-square-metre facility in Noble Park, at an estimated cost of more than $50 million.

The partnership should see Hyzon produce its first order of hydrogen-powered tow trucks for RACV-owned towing company Nationwide Group.

They say they will come up with three locally made prototypes to be delivered by the end of the year.

Several large Australian companies have agreements with Hyzon for imported hydrogen vehicles to be delivered this year, including buses for Fortescue Metals Group and prime-movers to Wesfarmers-owned Coregas. 

Hydrogen fuel cells, which emit only water vapour as exhaust, have massive potential in decarbonising the transport sector, if the manufacturing processes are emissions-free.

The next-gen fuel is particularly useful for heavy vehicles such as long-haul trucks and buses, as hydrogen engines weigh much less, allowing for larging hauling volumes. 

Also this week, new data shows sales of new electric cars in Australia have more than tripled in the past 12 months.