SEA Electric adds hydrogen tech to next-gen power system

Electric vehicle technology company SEA Electric is set to launch its next-generation power system featuring an optional hydrogen range extender to appeal for heavier duty operations.  

The SEA-Drive 250 model has been designed for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 36,250kg, in heavy-duty rigid or day-cab configurations. 

The new power-system will be unveiled at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo taking place in Anaheim, California from May 2-4. 

Paring the power-system with an optional 45kW hydrogen fuel cell range extender (RE) is a major development for SEA Electric. This extends potential range and opens up new opportunities in the transport sector for the company. 

Featuring all of the attributes of the other systems available, the SEA-Drive 250 will feature maximum power of 670hp (500kW) and peak torque of 6,200Nm, with power drawn from a 250kWh battery pack.

SEA Electric founder and chief executive Tony Fairweather says the SEA-Drive 250 represents a “major breakthrough” in the company’s efforts to electrify the world’s commercial transport fleet. 

“The power-system is perfectly suited to the rigors of lighter duty refuse collection, with the platform already proven in other deployments in the space via pure-battery powered configurations.
 
“For SEA Electric, this new product combination offers us the opportunity to branch out into some fantastic new areas and applications, which can now benefit from our leadership in the industry, such as day-cab and drayage tractor applications.

“In regards to the refuse industry, the SEA-Drive 250 RE will allow us to provide a solution for 95 per cent of the market via any chassis combination.
 
“The combination of battery electric with the optional fuel cell extender will optimise weight and cost, whilst delivering the full fleet duty-cycle requirements, with performance that has never been seen before in this segment,” Fairweather says.
 
“One of the competitive advantages of the SEA-Drive power-system is that all ancillary functions are completely electrified, with all hydraulics systems involved in the compacting and operation of the refuse body completely managed by the integrated systems.
 
“What this means is that noisy refuse trucks will be a thing of the past, which is sure to be welcomed by anyone living in an urban environment,” he says.