Even the snowmobile now runs on hydrogen. Here is Leitwolf h2Motion from South Tyrolean Prinoth
Source: HW Upgrade added 29th Dec 2020
The green transition also affects the cat of the snows: Prinoth presents the first electric snow groomers, powered by battery and hydrogen fuel cells, for a more environmentally friendly ski management
by Roberto Colombo published on 28 December 2020 , at 17: 41 in the Technology channel
prinoth
Those who go skiing certainly do so for sporting activities, for the pleasure of speed, but also to breathe a little ‘ good air ‘. However, many have experienced the experience of finding themselves in the wake of a diesel snow groomer , useful for making snow suitable for descents, but also capable of ruining all the poetry of the mountain. As is happening for transport, even for snow groomers, the moment of ‘ is approaching green transition ‘, with the transition to non-fossil fuel-based engines.
The South Tyrolean company Prinoth , which specializes in tracked vehicles dedicated to snow, is experimenting with the electric snowmobile , in the double version with battery and fuel cells hydrogen . Leitwolf h2Motion is the first snow groomer in the world with electric motor powered by hydrogen via fuel cells , capable of unleashing a power of 400 kW (544 horses). With a pair of 2300 Nm , the hydrogen electric model exceeds the traditional diesel one. Autonomy with a full tank of hydrogen is declared in 4 hours .
Husky eMotion is instead a smaller model, which instead stores the energy necessary for the electric motor in a battery pack of 190 kWh , useful for moving the motor from 200 kW ( 270 CV) with an operational autonomy of approximately 3 hours. In this case the torque is equal to 1140 Nm .
It will be interesting to see the results of the first field trials on the slopes of the Dolomites . The use in the mountains could actually be able to be at zero impact , with the energy necessary to charge the batteries and produce the hydrogen available from the hydroelectric plants scattered throughout the territory.
PRINOTH is part of the High Group Technology Industries (HTI), active worldwide in the sectors of cable transport systems (LEITNER, POMA, AGUDIO), multi-purpose tracked vehicles (PRINOTH), urban transport systems (MINIMETRO) and wind energy (LEITWIND ).